Shell-shocked! Moment 'brazen' thief steals £1,850 bronze statue of TURTLES from art gallery

Published: 11:13 EDT, 29 October 2026 | Updated: 11:18 EDT, 29 October 2026 A brazen thief stuffed a £1,850 turtle sculpture under his coat before calmly walking out of an art gallery.Footage shows the moment the thief made off with the bronze artwork, entitled Turtle Duo, from an art gallery in Stamford, Lincolnshire, at about 2.40pm on October 3.He appears to be browsing the exhibits at Adrian Hill Fine Art before suddenly dashing over to a table and grabbing the turtle statue created by the acclaimed wildlife artist Stephen Rew.The man conceals the artwork - featuring two turtles swimming side by side - under his coat before leaving the gallery. Gallery owner Adrian Hill said the theft was unprecedented in more than two decades of trading.He said: 'We like to think we're very vigilant, we've never had anything taken before. 'It is just such a brazen act in the middle of the day when other people were in the gallery.'Mr Hill added he had been in the industry for 23 years and this was the first time anything had been stolen from the gallery. He appears to be browsing the exhibits at Adrian Hill Fine Art before suddenly dashing over to a table and grabbing the turtle statue The man conceals the artwork - featuring two turtles swimming side by side - under his coat before leaving the gallery He then calmy walks out of the art gallery with bronze statue Footage shows the moment the thief made off with the bronze artwork, entitled Turtle Duo, from an art gallery in Stamford, Lincolnshire, at about 2.40pm on October 3 The Turtle Duo statue by wildlife artist Stephen Rew which was stolen from Adrian Hill Fine Art in StamfordLincolnshire Police have released an image of a man they believe 'may have information that could assist us in our investigation'.Artist Stephen Rew was named Wildlife Artist of the Year 2019 by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.According to the gallery's website, he 'dedicates a large portion of his time to working in close proximity to wildlife, where his inspiration is largely derived' and works with conservation charities to 'do his bit' and help animals in the natural world'.Anyone with information should call police quoting reference 26000596082.