Southwark appeals for information following theft of Barbara Hepworth statue
Published 21 December 2011
Thieves have stolen an irreplaceable piece of public art by Barbara Hepworth, one of the most highly regarded sculptors of the 20th century.
The bronze sculpture called "Two Forms (Divided Circle)" and was erected in Dulwich Park in Southwark in 1970.
Police are investigating the theft which took place overnight (19/20 December) after thieves broke into the locked park, drove up to the statue and removed it.
The break-in and theft was discovered this morning (20 December) by Southwark Council staff.
It comes as soaring prices for copper, lead and bronze has meant that everything from railway lines, phone lines and even war memorials have been targeted by thieves across the country in recent years.
Southwark Council today issued an urgent appeal for anyone with information on the theft to come forward. Council chiefs are also offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the metal thieves.
Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said:
"The theft of this important piece of 20th Century public art from Dulwich Park is devastating. The theft of public art and metal is becoming a sickening epidemic. I would ask the Met Police and their metal theft task force to investigate this theft as a matter of urgency and would ask anyone with any information about the whereabouts of the sculpture to contact us or the police."
The theft comes a month after a statue of one of the country's leading social reformers of the twentieth century, Dr Alfred Salter, was stolen from Rotherhithe. The Salter statue, valued at around £17,500, had been erected in celebration of Dr Salter's leading work helping the poor in London at the beginning of the 20th century.
Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
