From The Times, April 13, 1924
Two mysterious jewel robberies in the West End are being investigated by Scotland Yard detectives. One occurred at the residence of Lady Pulteney, wife of Lieutenant-General Sir William Pulteney, Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod to the House of Lords, 12A, Curzon Street, W, and the other at 55, Portland Place, W, the residence of Lady Alexander Paget.
Lady Pulteney occupies a suite of rooms, and on returning after an absence of two or three hours found that a graduated pearl necklace, a gold wristlet watch, and a number of rings of the total value of £1,100 had been stolen from the dressing table in her bedroom. She at once contacted the police, but no marks of forcible entry, either on the doors or windows, could be seen, and the belief is that the thief — possibly a woman — entered while the front door was left temporarily open, and passing up the stairs entered the room and got away again without arousing suspicion.
The theft from Lady Alexander Paget’s house is also a curious one. She reported to the police on Saturday that since March 1 a number of miniatures had been stolen from one of the rooms. On that date she left the house for the country, and did not discover the loss until her return to town. The miniatures were on a table and covered over with a cloth, and as instructions had been given for the house to be sold it is possible that the thief gained admittance on the pretence that he was a prospective purchaser.
The following is a list of the stolen property as issued by Scotland Yard: Three antique miniatures, period 17th century — the first, picture of Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere, dressed in Hussar uniform, the second, of Lady Combermere, dressed in Napoleon period dress, the third, of Mrs Greville, old-fashioned dress.
All three are in small oval plain gold frames. Four modern miniatures — of the present Marquess of Anglesey, the Countess of Pembroke, Lady Winifred Pennoyer and Lord Victor Paget — all as children; ten antique gold seals, Paget and Catton crest thereon; long agate seal, Paget crest thereon — viz, lion rampant surmounting shield. Two old gold snuff-boxes; two antique enamel medallions with hunting scenes; two old French paintings on silk in gold frames.
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