Bronze animal statues stolen from Somercotes sculpture studio

Police are investigating after bronze animal statues were stolen from a sculpture studio in Somercotes.

Officers were alerted to a break-in at a business on Nottingham Road at about 22:20 GMT on 30 December.

In an appeal issued on Tuesday, Derbyshire Police said CCTV footage “shows the offenders arriving in a car”, stealing a number of objects and leaving, before returning in a flatbed van to take away more items.

A bronze statue of a horse and two statues of dogs were among those taken, the force added.

In a statement, the force said the suspects were believed to be three or four men, two of which were white and wearing dark clothing.

“Officers have made extensive inquiries into the incident and we are now asking the public for help as part of our investigation,” the statement added.

“We have released images of the stolen statues in the hope that someone may recognise them.”