Richardson candles missing from Cambridge turn up in Aladdin’s cave of stolen lamps
Two of the three Richardson candles stolen from Cambridge city centre have been recovered after police uncovered an Aladdin’s cave of stolen lamps.
Almost 300 lamps and light fittings were found in an extraordinary haul at an address in North Hertfordshire.
Many of them are streetlamps, while others are more ornate fittings likely to be from residential addresses.
Police have made one arrest and are now attempting to reunite as many of the lamps as possible with their owners.
Cambridge’s distinctive Richardson candle street lamps were designed by Sir Albert Richardson for the city in 1957 and had listed building status.
They were stolen during September and October from outside the Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street, from Jesus Lane and from St John’s Street.
Two of the three were found when, as part of ongoing enquiries, Hertfordshire Constabulary officers visited an address in Barkway on Saturday, 11 January, recovering 296 lights and lanterns.
PC Thomas Woollard, from the North Herts neighbourhood policing team, said: “An arrest has been made in relation to theft, however we are now looking to reunite as many of the items as possible with their rightful owners.
“We believe the majority are from across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire and may have gone missing in the last six months.
“This is a unique case and significant investigations are being conducted into the items recovered.
“We have already made contact with local authorities and Heritage England.
“If you think some may belong to you, please get in contact.”
The force said an 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and has been released on police bail while investigations continue.
It is not yet clear whether the Richardson candles can be reinstated in Cambridge, but many people were left dismayed by their disappearance last year.
Their tubes were designed vertically because Sir Alan was unimpressed by more conventional street lighting. He devised the brown posts and upright tubular lamp style after being inspired by a lamp made for the 1951 Festival of Britain.
Images of many of the stolen lamps recovered from the property in Barkway have now been released as officers work to reunite as many as possible with their owners.
If you believe you may have been a victim of such a theft and have not reported it, you can do so by reporting information online at herts.police.uk/report, speaking to an operator in the force communications room via the force’s web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or by calling the non-emergency number 101, quoting ISR 151 of 11 January.
You can also stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
