Mammoth tusk, rare art: French police list haul of 7,000 stolen items

Police in Bergerac (Dordogne) have uncovered a trove of over 7,000 stolen antiques and objects worth at least €700,000 after an investigation lasting several months.

The hoard includes an engraved mammoth tusk, machine guns from World War Two, rare artworks, bronze statues, old coins, ancient books and more.

The police have set up a dedicated website listing all the objects, which you can see here, in an attempt to return the items to their rightful owners.

The investigation started last year when three suspects were arrested in connection to the theft of a safe in Bergerac, newspaper Le Figaro reported.

While searching the homes of the suspects and places linked to them, police found boxes, sheds and some 50 other storage places stashed with valuable and rare objects.

The suspects, who have been placed under arrest, have not explained to the police how they came by the objects. One of them is a coin collector.

Some of the objects have already been reclaimed after the owners were able to prove that they had been stolen.

Police search for owners

The website, which will remain open until July 31, lists all the objects discovered along with a picture and a description.

It states that anyone who wishes to claim a stolen item can do so by filling out a form. The person should have proof of ownership of the item, for example a receipt, a police report stating the theft of the object, an insurance claim, photographs, etc.

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