Thieves Robbed The Crown of $200,000 Worth of Props and Set Pieces

Netflix’s historical drama The Crown, a.k.a. the most expensive television show ever made, spares no expense when it comes to re-creating the lives of Britain’s royal family. But where there’s wealth, there’s always a risk of igniting more than just royal-family drama. Thieves targeted the set and made off with some pricey items. No, they did not take any crowns.

According to a spokesperson for the South Yorkshire police department who talked to Variety, the authorities were called at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, “following a report of theft from vehicles at Pastures Road, Doncaster.”

They continued, “It is reported that three vehicles containing props used in film and TV were broken into and a number of items taken. Officers investigated the incident, but all existing lines of inquiry have now been exhausted. The case has been filed pending any new lines of inquiry.”

In all, more than 350 props and set pieces were pilfered, worth over $200,000. Since the investigations seem to have hit a dead end, Netflix is now asking for the public’s help in retrieving the items taken. The items include “a replica of a 1897 Imperial Coronation Fabergé coach egg, 12 sets of silver candelabras, seven gold candelabras, a clockface from a William IV grandfather clock (but not the longcase in which it was enclosed), some Russian religious icons, a 10-piece silver dressing table, [and] St. Louis gilt crystal glassware and decanters.”

Per Variety, The Crown set decorator Alison Harvey told a trade publication that the thieves might not have made off with as valuable of a treasure as they expected—at least when it comes to resale value. “The items stolen are not necessarily in the best condition and therefore of limited value for resale,” she said. “However, they are valuable as pieces to the U.K. film industry.”