Stolen Wakefield Sculptures: Police Investigation Closes With No Suspects Found
The theft has left police and local officials at a loss to identify the culprits.
A set of bronze sculptures valued at nearly £200,000 has been stolen from outside the Wakefield One building in West Yorkshire, prompting urgent calls for public assistance. Titled “The Auguries: Last Call,” the five pieces by British artist Andy Holden were part of a £1m art trail designed to bring contemporary works to Wakefield’s city center. Despite reviewing CCTV footage, police have closed the investigation after failing to identify any suspects—thieves were reportedly “wearing hoods,” according to local officials.
Wakefield Council, which commissioned the installation in 2023 with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed that the artworks were fully insured. Council members are now exploring the possibility of recreating the sculptures but may opt for a safer location to prevent repeat offenses. The theft struck a blow to cultural projects aimed at “animating” public space, especially given the sculptures’ ecological message: each piece represented the rapidly declining songs of native British birds, turned into 3D waveforms and cast in metal.
The council is appealing to the public for any leads. Anyone with information on the theft is urged to come forward immediately. For residents and art lovers alike, the incident is a stark reminder of the challenges that public art faces—even in places deemed “not risky sites.”
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