Safe and cash stolen from armouries museum (From Daily Echo)

Safe and cash stolen from armouries museum at Fort Nelson in Fareham

9:45am Monday 20th February 2012 in Fareham

A SAFE full of cash was stolen from a busy Hampshire museum packed with visitors.

Thieves walked out with the large grey safe and cash tins, containing £1,000, while families were wandering around Fort Nelson near Fareham.

The imposing Victorian fort is home to the Royal Armouries national collection of artillery, where there are over 350 big guns.

Police said the Royal Armouries museum was busy with visitors last Sunday, when the thieves struck.

However a museum spokesman stressed the theft was from offices in a non-public part of the museum.

The empty safe and tins were found discarded at Newlands Farm, Fareham, on Wednesday.

PC Stephen Way said: “The safe was heavy and cumbersome and it would have taken at least two people to carry it. We are appealing for anyone who thinks they might have seen anything suspicious in the area late on last Sunday morning or early afternoon.”

Anyone with information should call PC Way on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.