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Memorabilia charity lots stolen in raid

Katie Fitzpatrick
17/11/2007

THOUSANDS of pounds worth of memorabilia from the world of sport and entertainment has been stolen.

A signed photograph of pop singer Kylie Minogue was among more than 50 irreplaceable items taken from a Marland-based framing firm.

The theft is all the more heartbreaking because the pieces were sent to be framed by Treasure It Collectables to raise money for various charities.

The picture of the ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ hit-maker was set to raise cash for a cancer charity and it was all the more special because of Kylie’s own fight against the disease.

The intruders took Manchester United shirts signed by Wayne Rooney and the entire squad, shirts autographed by England cricketer Andrew Flintoff and darts legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and signed photographs of champion boxer Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton, golf superstar Tiger Woods and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

They also took gold discs from the rock bands Velvet Revolver and The Who, signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and a signed montage of the rapper 50 Cent, which belonged to the company.

And two cricket bats signed by West Indies cricketer Jimmy Adams for a Treasure It Collectables client and his son at the Cricket World Cup were also missing.

Ten framed football shirts, including autographs from the England and Newcastle squads and legendary Argentine player Diego Maradona, were stacked up by a door but left behind in the break-in on Sunday.

Mike Parr of Treasure It Collectables said: “These items are irreplaceable and they are priceless.

“Some of them are signed personally to people.

“We would urge anyone who is offered anything autographed to be vigilant.”

A box that had contained the memorabilia was found on Tuesday on the playing fields of Matthew Moss High School.

A ripped up picture of Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton was found on the other side of the school fence.

School site manager Tony McLoughlin said: “Staff have been asked to be vigilant and to keep their eyes and ears open for any information.”