Crime Family Convicted of Antiques Conspiracy
Five members of the Johnson family have been convicted of conspiracy to burgle and of handling stolen goods. They have been given sentences totalling 49 years following their role in the UK’s biggest ever domestic burglary.
Between May 2003 and April 2006, the Johnson family swept through country homes throughout Great Britain, stealing art and antiques valued in excess of $160 million. The largest single burglary was carried out in February 2006 at Ramsbury Manor, the home of collector Harry Hyams, where they stole approximately 300 museum-quality artworks estimated at over $142 million.
Hundreds of items have since been recovered by the police, and with the cooperation of the Art Loss Regsiter, numerous items have been identified and returned to their owners. Of the items identified by the ALR, a painting by a 17th century pupil of Peter Paul Rubens, was stolen from Ramsbury Manor. Additional items recovered by the ALR include several valuable antique clocks stolen from a private house in Berkshire. The ALR was able to identify the properties after they were checked by a provincial auction house which was suspicious of their origins. The ALR notified the police who linked the seller to the Johnson family and made a successful arrest.
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