Land Rover Thief Caught After Bizarre Bronze Statue Heist
Jack Strover pulled off a brazen theft in Great Chart last January. He stole a Land Rover and used it to nick three priceless bronze statues the same night. The damage and audacity left locals stunned.
Statues Torn From Property, Dragged Along Road
At 6.30pm on 3 January 2021, Strover swiped the Land Rover from a private home. He was spotted driving away in convoy with a small silver car. Later that evening, the stolen Land Rover showed up at a Wittersham property towing large objects behind it at dangerous speeds, making the statues bounce along the ground.
The haul? The “Dancing Ladies” — a renowned bronze sculpture by artist Sophie Ryder. It features three women dancing in a circle, each with striking hare heads.
Damaged Statues Dumped By Roadside
Two of the statues were later found abandoned and severely damaged by passersby. The stolen vehicle was also discovered damaged and undriveable the next morning.
Caught Red-Handed With Trophy Footage
Less than two weeks later, Strover, 34, of Ashford, was arrested for a different crime. Police found his phone contained video footage of the stolen statues and screenshots of the police media appeal.
The Chief Constable’s Crime Squad charged Strover with theft of a motor vehicle and theft. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 months behind bars at Canterbury Crown Court on 11 March 2022.
Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson said: “Jack Strover broke this sculpture during his attempts to steal it. Though parts were recovered, they were badly damaged. The footage showed how little he cared about the artwork — to him, it was just scrap metal.”
“He was selfish, stealing what he wanted and damaging everything in his escape. He even kept video ‘trophies’ on his phone, which ultimately led to his capture and jail time.”
