Current timestamp: 19/08/2022 21:36:52
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

sussex-header-logo-217

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Overseas registration scheme
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Request your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Sentimental clock stolen in 2015 burglary returned to owners

Main article content

Navigation

News

18:00 28/07/2022

20220728-janes-clock.jpg

“I never expected to see it again”.

These were the words of Paul Janes (pictured above with wife Annette), who has been reunited with a clock presented to his late grandfather 97 years ago, after it was stolen when his house was burgled on the night of January 15 2015.

Paul’s grandfather, Leonard King, was presented with the clock (below) after assisting a police officer from Maidstone Borough Police Force with the arrest of two violent prisoners on Boxing Day 1925.

janes-foundclock-1.jpg

Paul and his wife Annette had returned home from a night away to find entry had been forced and numerous rooms in the house had been ransacked.

They immediately reported the burglary to police but after an investigation, the case was filed due to no viable lines of enquiry.

A few years later, the clock turned up at a boot sale in Ford, West Sussex, where it was purchased. It then changed hands again, after being listed on eBay, which is where its journey home began.

The eBay purchaser, who wished to remain anonymous, spotted the listing and undertook some research after reading the clock’s personalised plaque (below) and feeling concerned that such a personal possession wouldn’t have been sold legitimately.

janes-foundclock-2.jpg

He researched the victim’s grandfather and found an article in the ‘The Argus’ newspaper about the burglary. He then contacted local radio but after being unsuccessful, contacted Sussex Police.

Detectives from Hastings CID then contacted Paul and Annette to inform them that the clock had been located.

Paul said: “I was absolutely astounded and delighted. I am so grateful to the finder, who would only let me cover his purchase fee on the understanding that he could donate it to a firefighters’ benevolent fund. He was an ex-Metropolitan firefighter who retired some years ago”.

Detective Sergeant Chris Milner said: “We were delighted to be able to reunite this item with the owner, and it also shows the vital importance of police actions such as listing items on property databases and publicising such crimes in media releases in the hope that one day they will be identified and returned”.

Crime prevention advice can be found on the Sussex Police website here. Additionally, ‘Immobilise’, the UK National Property Register can be used to log high-value items at https://www.immobilise.com/.

Share

  • PCSO shares incredible story of recovery after life-threatening crash
  • Summer crackdown on drink and drug-drivers is underway
  • Drugs and weapons seized during Brighton Pride safety preparations
  • More than 5kg of cannabis seized in St Leonards and Bexhill
  • Jackie Carpenter from Bognor found
  • Hove man arrested for money laundering after unexplained wealth discovery
  • Join Sussex Police as an officer, but what could you become?
  • Witness appeal following serious collision in South Harting

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

Sussex Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • About us
  • Jobs
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the police
  • Police & Crime Commissioner

Follow us on

© Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.