THOUSANDS of pounds worth of bronze statues have been stolen in burglaries and attempted thefts around the Chipping Campden areas which police suspect may be linked.

The first incident was the attempted theft of a bronze statue at a gallery in Broadway on February 10 but the female suspect dropped the item when chased.

The following day a statue featuring a nude female measuring 21 inches high and weighing about 18lbs with an inscription and possibly marked "11 of 12" was taken from a shop in Chipping Campden. The police incident number is 306 of February 11 3128/15.

Two suspicious females in a red ‘people carrier’ vehicle were seen in the yard of an address in Paxford on Feruary 12 at about 12.30 pm . They were asking for water for their vehicle.

The women are described as being of Eastern European appearance and believed to have been seen in the vicinity the previous day.

There are several incidents referring to a red people carrier which is possibly being linked to individuals based in Coventry. the incident number for this is 247 of February 12.

The following day three females also of Eastern European appearance were seen acting suspiciously near a skip on a driveway around midday in Chapel Lane, Weston Subedge.

They were wearing headscarves and when challenged departed in a maroon hatchback, possibly a Vauxhall Zafira. The incident number for this is 188 of February 13.

A bronze resin statue of a person measuring 15 inches tall and set into agranite base was stolen from a shop in The Guild, Sheep Street, Chipping Norton, on February 21. The incident number is 302 of Febryuary 21 4021/15.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Gloucestershire police on 101 quoting the incident and crime numbers.