Latest news with #valuables
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Major update after baffling $150k jewellery robbery at Aussie Olympic great Ian Thorpe's lavish home - despite no signs of a break-in
Fresh details have emerged after it was revealed last week that Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe was the victim of an alleged robbery at his Sydney home. It is understood that the five-time gold medallist has lost valuables worth an estimated $150,000. The former swimmer, 42, reported the missing items to Paddington police station last Thursday and officers have now launched an investigation. Eyebrows had been initially raised over how the items had gone missing after his manager James Erskine told The Sydney Morning Herald last week that there 'seems to be no obvious break-in' at his home. But 2GB's Ben Fordham revealed a fresh twist on the situation on Monday, claiming that police, as part of their investigations are 'examining a removalist company.' 'Ian Thorpe is of the belief that his watches and jewellery went missing during a move and we can see from property records that late last year, Thorpy sold his home in Woollahra in Sydney's eastern suburbs,' Fordham said during a live broadcast on Monday. NSW police are investigating the matter as an alleged robbery and are investigating a removalist as part of their inquiries 'We don't know where he's moved to but when Ian Thorpe was moving his possessions, he believes that some went missing. Watches, jewellery, and some other valuable items. 'He doesn't know how much they're worth. But his best guess is $150,000.' Fordham added: 'We don't have any evidence that they are in any way responsible for the missing items.' Thorpe is due to return to present Channel 9's coverage of the Australian swimming trials at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre later this week. Daily Mail Australia has contacted his agent, James Erskine, for comment. Last week, Erskine also delivered an update on the situation, revealing that none of Thorpe's Olympic medals were missing. But he stated: 'He has had some things stolen from his house - watches, jewellery, some personal items. 'He called up his insurers, they said go and make a police report.' Erskine also told The Sydney Morning Herald that Thorpe was doing 'fine' following the shocking discovery. He adds that the swimmer 'is not too bothered about the material stuff.' Last week, Thorpe cut a dejected figure as he was photographed shopping near his eastern suburbs home on Friday. It came just hours after reports emerged that he was missing several sentimental items. Thorpe, who is Australia's most decorated male Olympic Swimmer, cut a dejected figure as he walked around a supermarket while speaking on the phone. The Australian has not yet publicly commented on the alleged crime. New South Wales, meanwhile, issued a statement last week to confirm that they had commenced an investigation. 'At about 4pm on Thursday, June 5, a 42-year-old man attended Paddington police station to report an alleged theft incident,' NSW Police said in a statement. 'Officers attached to eastern suburbs have commenced an investigation into the alleged incident. The swimming great is understood to have lost around $150,000 following the alleged crime 'There is no further information available at this time.' Thorpe had taken a financial hit last October after the former swimmer was forced to reduce the listing price of his luxury Sydney home from $3.7million to $3.5m He had purchased the four-bed, three-bathroom townhouse in 2017 for $2.75m. The home itself is said to be one of the most stylish and stunning properties in the area, with Thorpe having carried out extensive renovation works to the property. It features open-plan living areas and a beautiful terrace. Thorpe had also previously been the subject of an alleged theft in 2005. It is understood that his Audi TT was broken into while parked in Glebe, in Sydney's inner west. It is understood that thieves stole a watch from the vehicle which was given to Thorpe at the 2004 Athens Olympics. 'The watch that's missing has great sentimental value to me and I would really appreciate it being returned,' Thorpe had said at the time.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Worse-for-wear Ian Thorpe looks devastated as he surfaces for the first time since alleged $150,000 theft from his home - as new details deepen the mystery
Ian Thorpe has cut a devastated in exclusive Daily Mail Australia photos taken shortly after the news broke that he was the victim of an alleged theft at his Sydney home that saw him lose valuables worth an estimated $150,000. The five-time Olympic gold medallist was photographed shopping near his eastern suburbs home on Friday, just hours after the first reports detailing the alleged crime. Thorpe, 42, looked depressed and out of sorts as he went shopping and had a phone conversation almost 24 hours since he went to Paddington police station in the city's east to make a report at 4pm on Thursday. His manager James Erskine shed further light on the horrible loss in revelations made on Friday. 'He has had some things stolen from his house - watches, jewellery, some personal items,' Erskine said. 'He called up his insurers, they said go and make a police report.' Thorpe - who has not commented publicly on his shocking loss - was seen in conversation on the phone after his valuable personal items were taken while he was away Erskine then deepened the mystery over what happened in separate comments. 'He's been away, so he doesn't know when the stuff has been stolen,' Erskine told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'There seems to be no obvious break-in. 'There's no missing Olympic medals. There were one or two sentimental items missing.' Erskine added that Thorpe is 'fine' after the shocking discovery and is 'not too bothered about the material stuff'. Thorpe attended Paddington police station in the city's east to report the alleged crime, which he described as an 'insurance job', according to radio 2GB. 'At about 4pm on Thursday, June 5, a 42-year-old man attended Paddington police station to report an alleged theft incident,' NSW Police said in a statement. 'Officers attached to eastern suburbs have commenced an investigation into the alleged incident. 'There is no further information available at this time.' Thorpe has not commented on the alleged crime at the time of writing. 'We believe he's in the red to the tune of $150,000,' 2GB's Ben Fordham told listeners. 'There are no details about what's allegedly happened to Ian Thorpe. 'We don't know if he's been robbed online or in person.' Fordham said Erskine was initially unaware of the alleged theft, but Thorpe told him he saw the police 'to talk about an insurance job' when he contacted his client. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Thorpe and his management for comment. The news of the alleged theft comes after Thorpe also took a financial hit in October last year. He listed his luxury Sydney home in the upmarket suburb of Woollahra - not far from the police station he attended on Thursday - for $3.5million after purchasing the exquisite four-bed, three-bathroom townhouse in December 2017 for $2.75million. He had previously listed it for $3.7million in September 2023, but failed to find a buyer at that price and was then faced with taking a $200,000 hit. Thorpe did extensive renovation work to the property, which also features open-plan living areas, a stunning re-modelled terrace and stylish sliding doors. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in 2023, letting agent Courtney Wong said the home is the 'best one' in the area, situated away from the street. 'It's completely private and secluded,' he added. The recent alleged theft isn't the first time Thorpe has been a victim of crime. In 2005 his Audi TT coupé was broken into in Glebe in Sydney's inner west, with the thieves stealing a watch. 'The watch that's missing has great sentimental value to me and I would really appreciated it being returned,' Thorpe said at the time. The Omega timepiece featured the Olympic logo and was given to Thorpe at the 2004 Athens Games. Thorpe - who starred on Channel Nine's swimming commentary team for the Paris Olympics last year - went public with a devastating admission last September. He revealed that an irregular result to a drug test plunged him into a depression so deep he thought about taking his own life. When the result was revealed by a French newspaper, Thorpe obtained medical evidence that cleared his name, and sued the publication for reporting that his sample had elevated levels of testosterone and luteinising hormone. At the time the revelation was so devastating he did not want to leave his house, feeling that mental health issues should be resolved personally, and contemplating attempting his own life and staging it as an accident. 'An irregular test isn't uncommon. They happen. So firstly, no one should know that information to begin with,' Thorpe said. 'An irregular test means nothing. An irregular test gets thrown out.' It was one of many pressures Thorpe experienced during his sporting career. At 14, Thorpe didn't think he deserved to compete in the World Championships, wondered if winning the same tournament at 15 was a 'fluke', and felt mounting pressure at 17 to win gold at the Sydney Olympics. 'People were assuming a result that hadn't happened yet. I would be with my mother at the shop, and people would say, "We've got tickets to the Olympics, we can't wait to see you win your first gold medal",' he said. 'I couldn't escape that part of it. Then it started being hyped up more and more and more. I was surrounded by it.'
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest stunned into silence as he learns eye-watering value of watch bought for just £21
Guests on Antiques Roadshow were stunned into silence when they learned the eye-watering value of a watch purchased for just £21.. Sunday's instalment of the popular BBC show saw expert Ben Wright presented with a pair of Rolex watches. One of the watches, identified as the Rolex Prince, belonged to the guest's great-great-grandfather, while the other, more recent one, was his father's, who had also joined. Of the older watch, Ben said: 'I notice there's a little bit of wear and tear on the dial and we've got a later winder on the case.' One of the guests revealed how much the antique watch belonging to the great-great-grandfather cost originally. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'It was £21 when it was bought,' he said. Ben went on to comment on the paperwork that accompanied the watch before looking at the Rolex Submariner, which belongs to the father. 'I was a merchant navy cadet in 1976 and I saved up my pittance to by that in Singapore. It was £250 I think,' he revealed. The expert then discussed the value of the two watches. 'At auction the Rolex Prince is going to be between £3,000 and £4,000,' Ben said as the two guests looked stunned. 'The Submariner, it's in great condition, all in all, the full ensemble at auction easily £8,000 to £12,000,' he added. The father and son duo smiled and nodded silently at the whopping values before thanking Ben. An episode back in 2021 saw another impressive evaluation of a Rolex watch. Appearing with his family, the man brought along the silver Submariner Rolex to be valued on the programme, which was broadcast from Stonor Park in Oxfordshire. He explained that his father had bought the timepiece for £132 in 1972 and gifted it to him months before he passed away in October. As well as the watch, he also had its original invoice receipt and two additional silver straps. 'My dad passed away in October and he gave it to me a couple of months before he passed away.' Richard explained that the Submariner model was introduced in 1967 and had its model name written in red, which is why collectors today call it the 'Red Submariner'. 'Nine or 10 years later, all that writing was in white,' he said. 'Watch collectors, particularly Rolex collectors, are really pedantic. Within that 10 year period, this watch was made with six different types of dial. 'But the important thing to see is to see that yours has feet first, the first three dials it was metres first, and we refer to those as marks one, two, three. Yours is a mark four dial.' Describing it as a 'lovely watch', Richard said the straps alone were worth 'a chunk of money', and suspects one of them is the original due to the date inscribed. Expert Richard Price explained that the Submariner model was introduced in 1967 and had its model name written in red, which is why collectors today call it the 'Red Submariner' He went on: 'With the receipt and the straps, and I hope you guys are going to be really pleased with this, it's going to be around the £20,000 mark.' With the owner speechless and visibly overcome with emotion, Richard added: 'It's something you've obviously loved and you're going to keep forever aren't you? 'It was your dad's and I think that's a lovely, lovely story and a great inheritance.'
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest sobs 'I don't believe it's true!' as expert reveals staggering real value of gems she thought were 'costume jewellery'
An Antiques Roadshow guest sobbed when an expert revealed the staggering real value of gems she thought were 'costume jewellery'. Sunday's instalment of the popular BBC show saw expert Susan Rumfitt presented with a selection of pieces of jewellery. The guest brought along two necklaces, one came with matching brooch and a pair of earrings which had been gifted to her by her grandmother when she was 18 years old. 'How wonderful, that's quite a present, isn't it?' Susan remarked. The guest explained how she thought they were 'just costume jewellery, that's what she told me'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The other necklace belonged to her mother, 'I think she inherited it, possibly, I can't really remember,' the guest explained. Susan examined the items and noted that one of the the necklaces contained amethysts and topaz, while the matching set was made from garnet. The expert dated the amethyst necklace to the 1880s to 1890s, 'amethysts are absolutely gorgeous, lovely saturation of colour and obviously mounted in yellow gold'. She described it as a 'beautiful piece of jewellery, with a case, which is what everybody loves at the moment.' Susan then explained the garnet necklace set dated to the 1800s. Revealing the value of the pieces, the expert said: 'The amethyst and white topaz necklace, if this came up for auction, an auction estimate of between £1,000 and £1,500.' 'As for the garnet parure, a set of jewellery, absolutely lovely. At auction because of the popularity of Georgian jewellery at the moment, auction estimate of £3,000 to £5,000,' she went on. The guest was visibly shocked and exclaimed: 'Oh my goodness, I didn't think I was wearing anything like that.' She added: 'Am I in a dream here, I don't believe it's true!' During another instalment, a guest on Antiques Roadshow was left floored by the whopping value of a 'grotty' item that had been abandoned in her garage for 20 years. Expert Marc Allum was presented with a designer piece of luggage at Beaumaris Castle. 'It's a pretty kind of grotty looking old piece of luggage this, it looks like it's had a really hard life,' Marc commented. The guest had acquired the Louis Vuitton chest after a family friend passed away and didn't originally realise the possible value of it. The guest's cousin who lives in Texas owns the item and she is the 'custodian' of it. 'We opened it and it said Louis Vuitton and I've actually had it in my garage for the past 20 years covered up,' she revealed. The expert explained how the trunk featured an 'unpickable lock' and inspected the inside details of the luggage box. He dated it to around 1890 and noted that though it needed 'quite a bit of work' he still gave an impressive valuation. 'As this stands, it's worth in the region of £2,500 to £3,500 at auction. It's a really nice thing,' Marc explained. 'Wow, wow,' the guest remarked.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest floored by whopping value of 'grotty' item abandoned in her garage for 20 years
A guest on Antiques Roadshow was left floored by the whopping value of a 'grotty' item that had been abandoned in her garage for 20 years. During a previous instalment of the BBC show, expert Marc Allum was presented with a designer piece of luggage at Beaumaris Castle. 'It's a pretty kind of grotty looking old piece of luggage this, it looks like it's had a really hard life,' Marc commented. The guest had acquired the Louis Vuitton chest after a family friend passed away and didn't originally realise the possible value of it. 'When we cleared the house it was covered in a blanket with a lamp on it, we just thought it was part of the clearing,' she explained. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'When we cleared the house it was covered in a blanket with a lamp on it, we just thought it was part of the clearing,' the guest (pictured) explained The guests cousin who lives in Texas owns the item and she is the 'custodian' of it. 'We opened it and it said Louis Vuitton and I've actually had it in my garage for the past 20 years covered up,' she revealed. The expert explained how the trunk featured an 'unpickable lock' and inspected the inside details of the luggage box. He dated it to around 1890 and noted that though it needed 'quite a bit of work' he still gave an impressive valuation. 'As this stands, it's worth in the region of £2,500 to £3,500 at auction. It's a really nice thing,' Marc explained. 'Wow, wow,' the guest remarked. During the same instalment, a guest struggled to speak after they discovered the value of an 'extraordinary' family heirloom. Expert Joanna Hardy was presented with a piece of jewellery made of ten gold nuggets. 'They just look extraordinary,' she commented, as the owner explained her grandfather had gifted the bracelet to her grandmother. The guest revealed: 'My grandfather worked in Segovia, in Colombia in the Frontino mines in the '30s and '40s. 'He was an engineer so I don't believe he mined those by hand, but I think he must have got those from there.' Joanna marvelled how the piece of jewellery was 'ahead of its time' given the art deco style that was popular in the 1930s. The expert gushed over the nature of the bracelet and precious metal it was made of. She said: 'Gold, it is the only metal that is just so malleable, it doesn't rust, it doesn't tarnish, it's inactive to chemical reactions so what you see here is exactly the same as when it was first found. 'It's just got that raw energy about it.' The guest agreed and commented, 'I love it when I wear it because it's really heavy and it just fits, it's a really nice size as well.; Joanna moved onto discussing the value of the item and pointed out 'Gold has never been higher than today'. 'So at auction, I think you'd be looking at around £5,000,' she explained. The guest was visibly shocked and appeared to struggle to speak after realising the value of her bracelet. She stammered: 'Oh! Okay. That's quite a lot, everybody said that I know but it's really a lot more than I thought.'
