Cambridge: Fitzwilliam Robbery Update

25 April 2012, 15:41 | Updated: 25 April 2012, 15:49

Police have told Heart they're 'keeping an open mind' about whether valuable Chinese artwork, stolen from a Cambridge museum, is still in the country.

18 pieces were taken during a burglary at the Fitzwilliam Museum at around 7:30pm on the evening of Friday 13th April.

Police believe up to four people were involved in the break-in.

The museum has not revealed how much the items are worth, but a London art dealer has told Heart he estimates they "could be worth up to £18 million."

Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed airports and ports, as well as police forces across the country, have been made aware of the theft and sent images of the stolen artefacts.

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Daber said: "We have contacted enforcement agencies at ports and airports nationwide.

The location of the items is central to us tracing the offenders and these measures were put into place very soon after the theft.

We are keeping an open mind about their intended destination.

It is possible the items have already left the country and we have circulated details to police forces internationally.''

Detectives believe a white VW Caddy van was used in the raid after the vehicle was caught on CCTV at around the time [pictured - CCTV above].

The van was stolen from outside a Londis store in Ellesmere Street in Tower Hamlets, London, at about 8.30am on April 7.