Barbara Hepworth sculpture in Dulwich Park missing?

[kerry.finlay]

It has vanished. Was there at the weekend. Stolen?!

[otherclaire]

Peter John at Southwark Council has just tweeted about this - he says it's been stolen... really terrible.

[DulwichDeviant]

DELETED

[miket53]

Looking at the way it's been removed I'd say it's stolen. How did they get it out of the park?

[Sue]

But what on earth are they going to do with it?

They can hardly sell it, it will be immediately recognisable :-S

[DulwichDeviant]

DELETED

[Nicholas Spears]

I assume if it has been stolen it will be melted down and sold for a few quid as unrecognisable scrap metal. Am hoping it's been rather clumsily removed for renovation, though a simple call to Southwark council could sort that out.

[morty]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16266378

[Pickle]

That's really shocking - I can't believe the lengths metal thieves are going to at the moment to make a few ??. I'd assume they would need to find somewhere to melt it down before trying to flog it for metal value? Or am I putting too much faith in the companies that buy scrap metal?

[tiddles]

this is so sad - it has probably gone via the people who melt down the remembrance plaques! This is so sad - how on earth did they get in? the gates must have been locked??

[Magpie]

This is deeply depressing, effing aholes - a work of art destroyed for a few quid.

[The Minkey]

Several years ago the same thing happened with a Henry Moore sculpture. Shame it wasn't secured sooner given the recent spate of metal thefts :-(

[Earl Aelfheah]

More metal scuplture thefts in the north of the Borough:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15879563

[DJKillaQueen]

Sadly metal theives have dealers to go to who don't care where the metal has come from.

[jonny vantastic]

Truly, truly shocking. Why scrap metal dealers aren't licenced just as shocking. Would be so easy to enforce dealers to film/ log incoming metal, but so far not enforced.

[DJKillaQueen]

I think I heard that the government are going to introduce rules requiring metal dealers to take details and end the practise of cash transactions. i.e. so there is a paper trail. But I suspect that won't be enough to stop the dodgy dealers.

[peterstorm1985]

Pickle Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That's really shocking - I can't believe the

> lengths metal thieves are going to at the moment

> to make a few ??. I'd assume they would need to

> find somewhere to melt it down before trying to

> flog it for metal value? Or am I putting too much

> faith in the companies that buy scrap metal?

Too many scrap metal merchants turn a blind eye. They can do that because they aren't required to provide any audit trail. Transactions are in cash. If you want to help change the law, sign the petition at

Change the law

[EDOldie]

That is a huge loss to Dulwich. It was a beautiful sculpture by a brilliant artist and was perfectly positioned in the park. I have always been a bit obsessed with it and will miss it terribly. Maybe with the insurance money they can buy something equally outstanding to replace it.

[soph w]

It was announced yesterday that there will be a new unit based in Bromley which will be dedicated to tackling metal theft crime. Maybe this will be there first case?

http://content.met.police.uk/News/The-MPS-is-launching-its-first-ever-dedicated-unit-to-tackle-metal-theft/1400005417094/1257246745756

I really hope they find it, although as it's such a high profile piece it'll be either stolen to order and probably out the country by now, or it'll be melted down in a few hours and then we'll never know. Really sad, as i love Barbera Hepworths work :(

[pincushionqueen]

I really loved that sculpture... I hope it hasn't been melted down already :(

[foggy]

I am so shocked that this can happen, its a very important statue and monument, even if a certain estate agent has purloined the image and used it to advertise their services, maybe they could lead the hunt in recovering the sculpture...

[Geron]

What can I say? Those thieves are miserable, miserable people. Thanks to peterstorm1985 for the e-petition link, duly signed.

*edited to remove swearyness

[Sue]

I've also signed the petition (pending clicking on the emailed link which hasn't arrived yet :) )

Thanks for drawing it to our attention PeterStorm

[KidKruger]

Bastards

[Medley]

I'd encourage everyone who wants to reform the scrap metal trade to have a look at this e-petition - and better still to sign it!

E-petition for a cashless scrap metal trade