Whilst the Band Played Carols Thieves Stole Jewels While a band was playing carols io the guests, jewels valued at £7,000 were stolen, from Putteridge Bury, Luton, Bedfordshire, the home of Sir Felix Cassel, K.C, during a holler party on Chrismas Eve, states the, "Manchester Guardian.
Earlier reports stated that the raiders' haul amounted to £50,000 worth of jewellery—largely comprising the collection, valued at that amount, of one of the guests, Foi tunately, however, the owner had not taken the whole of her jewellery with her, One of the stolen articles was a pearl neck containing 169 graduated pearls, The thieves entered through upstairs windows by a ladder taken from à farm near by.
The house stands well away from the Luton-to-Hitehin road in a wooded area, and the police regard the robbery as the work of a well-organised gang who were thoroughly acquainted with the estate and the lay-out of the mansion, Scotland Yard and ' police forces throughout the Home Counties spent the Christmas week-end in trying to trace the gang believed to have been concerned in the robbery.
The bulk of the stolen jewellery belónged to Sir Felix Cassel's sister, Mrs. Jenkins, who, with her husband, Colonel A, E. Jenkins, was among the family party at Putteridge Bur The other members of the party w Sir Felix and Lady Helen Cassel and three of their children.
A Band Playing The robbery was carried out between 9 and 1025 p.m. while the Luton band, former holders of the national band championship, were playing carols in the hall to the house party and servants. The band usually plays at Putteridge Bury on Christmas Eve.
The raid was discovered when the butler went up to Sir Felix's bedroom shortly after the band had left, It thought that the gang had a car hidden in one of the country lanes at the back of the estate. From. the front the house is approached by a drive guarded by a lodge on the main Luton-Hitehin road. In front of the house stood a number of cars, The raiders secured a ladder from a farm and entered Sir Felix's bedroom by breaking a window close to the catch, Then, instead of going along the corridor to other rooms, they moved the ladder to Mrs. Jenkins window and entered in the me way.
AS soon as the alarm was given a police cordon was drawn round the district, Putteridge Bury was also raided seven years ago, when thieves broke in during the early morning and stole a collection of orders and decorations and a case of old mini ture medi King George V was a frequent guest at Putteridge Bury, which pos-some of the best partridge g in England.
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