A metal detectorist who first discovered a Bronze Age artefact stolen during a break-in at Ely Museum has said he is “heartbroken”.
Speaking exclusively to the Ely Standard, James Ingram likened the theft of the museum’s gold bracelet to having “a piece of our history taken away”.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary are continuing their search for two suspects on e-scooters in connection with the break-in on Tuesday May 7.
The gold bracelet was one of two artefacts to be stolen, with thieves also removing East Cambridgeshire’s gold torc.
Both items date back to the Bronze Age, with the torc regarded as one of the best to be found in England in more than a century.
The museum acquired the torc, known to belong to the Penard Period of 1300-1150 BC, in 2017 with a series of grants and donations from the public after it was valued at £220,000.
James first discovered the bracelet in 2011 in an East Cambridgeshire field just three months after taking up metal detecting.
He said: “On the day I was scanning the farmer had gone home for lunch and exactly where he’d stopped ploughing, about six inches under the earth, I found the bracelet.
“If the farmer hadn’t stopped there, it would never have been found because it was buried quite deeply.
“I did some research because at the time I had no idea what it could be, but I knew that it was special. It wasn’t until I looked through forums that I realised exactly what it was.”
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James, from Fordham, reported the discovery to the local Finds Liaison Officer and the bracelet, which dates to between 1150-800 BC, was declared treasure.
The plasterer explains that more than a decade later he still hasn't found anything that compares to the bracelet in terms of historical significance.
He said: “I was shocked with it because it’s not something you find every day. I tried putting it on my wrist, but it wouldn’t fit.
“My wife and my two-year-old daughter tried it on, which was a historic moment because they were the first people to wear the bracelet in more than 3,000 years.”
The plasterer, who appeared on Dickinson’s Real Deal in 2017 following his discovery of a gold ring in 2015 said he was told about the break-in on Wednesday May 8.
He said: “I'm heart-broken about the theft, especially because my grandkids may never be able to see it again.
“I remember when I first discovered it how amazing it would have been to keep it, but I wanted other people to be able to appreciate an amazing piece of history.
“It’s like something has been stolen from my own home because even though the bracelet belonged to the museum, I was the one to find it.
“Having seen the CCTV footage, I’ve become hyper-vigilant and really want to do anything I can to help track it down.”
James had a bronze replica of the bracelet made shortly after he reported his discovery and has offered to donate it to the museum while police locate the original.
He said: “Our history has been taken away from us and I just hope that the police are able to make progress in locating it.
“I’m more than happy for the museum to have my replica so that they have something to display while the police continue to investigate.”
Speaking to the Ely Standard on Friday May 10, Detective Inspector Kiri Mazur said she was keeping an “open mind” with all lines of enquiries as the investigation continues.
She said: “We believe the suspects visited the area at around midnight before the break-in itself.
“They left the area and returned again at around 1:20am in the morning and accessed the building through a window by the museum’s staff car park.
“I believe a crowbar was used to break the window and the suspects gained entry.
“The alarms were activated as soon as they entered the building, and a curator and the police were notified immediately.”
Police have already released CCTV footage of the suspects entering the museum.
Both are wearing dark clothing and are looking down at the floor as they head straight to the case displaying the torc and bracelet.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police via their web chat service quoting Operation Lacunar or call us 101.
RECOMMENDED READING: Exclusive interview with detective investigating Ely Museum gold theft
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