Thief Steals Land Rover to Haul Away Priceless Bronze Statues
Jack Strover made a daring getaway in a stolen Land Rover from Great Chart back in January 2021. But that was just the start. The 34-year-old didn’t stop there — he used the stolen vehicle to snatch three bronze statues from another property the very same night.
Bronze Statues Dragged Along Road at Speed
On the evening of January 3, 2021, around 6.30pm, Strover pinched a Land Rover and was seen driving off in convoy with a small silver car. Later that night, witnesses spotted the Land Rover in Wittersham towing something heavy with a rope. The haul? Three bronze statues being dragged quickly enough to bounce and damage them.
These bronze figures, known as the Dancing Ladies, were created by artist Sophie Ryder and depicted three women dancing in a circle — each with large hare heads.
Damaged Statues Dumped, Thief Caught Red-Handed
Two of the statues were found dumped on a roadside in a severely damaged state. The stolen Land Rover was also discovered abandoned the next morning, battered and unable to start.
Less than two weeks later, Strover was arrested for an unrelated matter. Police found his phone and SIM card, which shockingly contained video footage of the stolen statues and screenshots from the media appeal by Kent Police.
Prison Sentence for Callous Art Thief
Following an investigation by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, Strover was charged with motor vehicle theft and theft of the statues. He pled guilty and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 11 March 2022 to 24 months behind bars.
“Jack Strover broke this sculpture during his attempts to steal it so although parts were recovered, they were left damaged,” said Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson. “The footage showed how little he cared for the statue’s artistic value – to him it was scrap metal. He showed blatant disregard for the victims, stole and damaged prized items, then kept footage like trophies. Ultimately, he was caught red-handed and sentenced to prison.”
