A bell was stolen from a war memorial in Nottingham. Police are investigating the theft. The public is asked to assist.
The stolen bell was a substitute for the original, which dates back to 1862. It was given to a museum in the 1950s. The council doesn’t know when the theft occurred. Police are seeking information about the missing bell.
Historic England says British troops stole the original from a temple in Canton during the Opium War. They brought the bell to the UK, and it became part of the war memorial built after the conflict ended.
Police are requesting public assistance to locate the stolen bell.
Sergeant Karl Browne, who works with the neighborhood policing team, commented on the theft. He stated the bell wasn’t the original from 1862, but the replacement still has meaning, having been key to the Chinese Bell Tower for years.
Police checked local CCTV footage after the report. Furthermore, they contacted local scrapyards and dealers in case someone tried to sell it as scrap. Sergeant Browne said the public can help the investigation by sharing information about the theft and the bell’s location.
Anyone with relevant details should call 101, quoting the crime number 25*42194. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.