East End statue snatched

Bronze figure worth estimated £10,000 stolen from grounds of house

AN EAST End villager has alerted neighbours and those in surrounding villages to be on their guard for metal thieves, after a £10,000 bronze statue dubbed “The Vodafone man” was taken from the grounds of his house.
According to Annette Thomas, the housekeeper of Rupert Hambro, at Copse Farm, East End, the solid bronze statue, about 5ft high, was taken sometime between Tuesday, January 24 and Wednesday, January 25, with the theft reported to the police.
“The gardener noticed on the afternoon of Thursday Jan 26) it was missing, “ said Mrs Thomas, adding it would have taken more than one person to lift and carry the heavy statue and they would have needed transport, possibly a trailer, to remove it further.
Beat officer, Pc Matt Deery, of Hampshire Constabulary, said the statue/figure, estimated value £10,000, was entitled 'Germanicus of Kleomenes'.
The statue had been nicknamed "The Vodafone Man," he said, as it looked as if the figure was holding something to his ear, and as a modern day figure would appear, if holding a mobile telephone.
Anyone with information about the statue should contact PC Matt Deery telephone the non emergency police number, 101.