Matthew Smith, who successfully tracked down the thief of coping stones from his dry-stone walls with the help of an Apple AirTag. (Charley Atkins via SWNS)
A local councilor turned detective to catch a thief who stole £7,000 ($9,400) worth of 300-year-old coping stones from a historic wall — using an Apple AirTag.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpC@F?5 b_ DE@?6D H6?E >:DD:?8 7C@> 2? `gE9\46?EFCJ H2== 2=@?8 2 92=7\>:=6\=@?8 DEC6E49 @7 C@25 H9:49 4@??64ED E96 E@H?D @7 w@=>6DH@@5 2?5 #F77@C5[ {2?42D9:C6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm(96? E96 A@=:46 D2:5 E96J 4@F=5?’E 96=A[ :?DE625 @7 E@=6C2E:?8 E96 =@DD[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]CF77@C52?59@=>6DH@@5\A4]8@G]F<^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm#F77@C5 2?5 w@=>6DH@@5 A2C:D9k^2m 4@F?4:=@C |2EE $>:E9[ cb[ 2=@?8D:56 @E96C =@42=D 564:565 E@ E2<6 >2EE6CD :?E@ E96:C @H? 92?5D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 525 @7 EH@ 564:565 E@ A=246 2? pAA=6 p:C%28 :?E@ @?6 @7 E96 2=C625J =@@D6 DE@?6D :? 9@A6D :E H@F=5 36 E2<6? 2?5 =625 E96> E@ E96 255C6DD @7 E96 A6CA6EC2E@C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmt2C=:6C E9:D >@?E9 rC2:8 q2C<6C[ c`[ @7 %2? w@FD6 sC:G6[ (:82?[ vC62E6C |2?496DE6C[ H2D D6?E6?465 E@ `a >@?E9D’ :>AC:D@?>6?E[ DFDA6?565 7@C aa >@?E9D[ 27E6C E96 DE@?6D H6C6 7@F?5 :? 9:D 324<J2C5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2EE[ 7C@> w@=>6DH@@5[ D2:5i “%96 2F524:EJ @7 9:> E@ DE62= 7C@> E96 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 9:D @H? A6CD@?2= 82:?] %92E :D?’E H92E H6 DE2?5D 7@C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“xE H@F=5 92G6 ?:46 7@C 9:> E@ 92G6 366? :>AC:D@?65 7@C E96 :>A24E 96 92D 925 @? E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“qFE E96 724E E92E H6 >2?2865 E@ C6EFC? E96 DE@?6D 324< E@ H96C6 E96J 36=@?8 H2D E96 >2:? 2:>]”k^Am
Police recover stolen 18th-century coping stones. (Charley Atkins via SWNS)
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 H2== :D E9@F89E E@ 92G6 366? 3F:=E 2C@F?5 `fb_ 7@C E96 vC256 xx\=:DE65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9:DE@C:46?8=2?5]@C8]F<^=:DE:?8^E96\=:DE^=:DE\6?ECJ^`be`gddQm#F77@C5 }6H w2==k^2m[ H9:49 H2D =2E6C 4@?G6CE65 :?E@ 2 9@DA:E2= :? E96 `h__D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp7E6C E96 9@DA:E2= 4=@D65 :? E96 ’g_D[ :E H2D C67FC3:D965 2?5 DA=:E :? 92=7 2?5 92D D:?46 366? EFC?65 :?E@ =FIFCJ 2A2CE>6?ED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 DFCC@F?5:?8 6DE2E6 92D D:?46 366? DF3;64E E@ 9@FD:?8 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2EE — H9@ 2=D@ CF?D 2 =2?5D42A:?8 3FD:?6DD[ |]$>:E9 v2C56?D U2>Aj {2?5D42A6D — D2:5 H@CC:65 =@42=D ?@E:465 E96 H2== H2D 7:CDE 2EE24<65 2?5 DE@?6D H6C6 E2<6? :? |2J a_ad]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~G6C E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D[ EH@ 7FCE96C C2:5D H@F=5 E2<6 A=246 :? yF?6 2?5 ~4E@36C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 4@F?4:=@C @C:8:?2==J C624965 @FE E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42D9:C6]A@=:46]F<^Qm{2?42D9:C6 !@=:46k^2m 3FE E96J H6C6 F?23=6 E@ 96=A 2D E96 2C62 925 ?@ “rr%' 4@G6C286” @C “7@C6?D:4 @AA@CEF?:E:6D[” 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? D2:5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2EE 2?5 @E96C C6D:56?ED 7:CDE 564:565 E@ AFE FA D:8?D D2J:?8 “D>:=6[ J@F 2C6 @? 42>6C2” 3FE 96 92D E@=5 E92E :E 5:5?’E 56E6C E96 4C:>:?2=]k^Am
(Charley Atkins via SWNS)
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J 2=D@ E9@F89E 23@FE :?DE2==:?8 E96:C @H? rr%' 42>6C2D 3FE D2:5 :E H@F=5 92G6 366? “E@@ 6IA6?D:G6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp7E6C E96 E9:C5 2EE24< @? ~4E] c[ |2EE 2D<65 A6C>:DD:@? @7 E96 H2== @H?6C[ @FE5@@C >2:?E2?46 4@>A2?J[ vC66? q6=E[ :7 96 4@F=5 E2<6 2 =@@D6 DE@?6 2?5 2EE249 2? p:C%28 :?D:56 E@ H9:49 E96J 28C665]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 D2:5i “(6 H6C6 9@A:?8 E96 DE@?6 H@F=5 36 E2<6? 2?5 =625 FD E@ E96 6I24E 255C6DD @7 E96 A6CD@? E2<:?8 E96>]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~? E96 >@C?:?8 @7 ~4E] ad[ |2EE D2:5 96 H@<6 FA E@ 7:?5 ?@E:7:42E:@?D @? 9:D A9@?6 C6G62=:?8 E96 DE@?6D 925 366? DE@=6? @G6C?:89E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 E96? 4@?E24E65 E96 A@=:46 23@FE E96:C H96C623@FED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 $@FE9 #FC2= %2D< u@C46 7C@> {2?42D9:C6 !@=:46 2EE6?565 E96 D46?6 2?5 7@F?5 2 “DF3DE2?E:2= 2>@F?E” @7 4@A:?8 DE@?6D 7C@> E96 H2== H@CE9 2AAC@I:>2E6=J £f[___ WSh[c__X]k^Am
(Charley Atkins via SWNS)
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%9@F89 |2EE 4=2:>D 5@K6?D @7 @E96CD H6C6 2=D@ 7@F?5 7C@> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ >2<:?8 E96 6DE:>2E65 E@E2= G2=F6 @7 FA E@ £c_[___ WSdb[g__X]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu@FC =@42= 72C>6CD E96? 42>6 @? E96 D2>6 52J E@ 9:D J2C5 2?5 A:4<65 FA E96 DE@?6D 2?5 E@@< E96> E@ E96 A@=:46 9625BF2CE6CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2EE D2:5i “xE H2D 2 8C62E 766=:?8 E@ <?@H H6 925 7@F?5 E96 >2? C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 42FD:?8 E96 4@>>F?:EJ D@ >F49 A2:?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“%96 >28?:EF56 @7 9:D @776?5:?8 H2D >2DD:G6[ 2?5 x’> 8=25 H6 DE@@5 FA 2?5 5:5?’E ;FDE E@=6C2E6 :E]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq2C<6C H2D DF3D6BF6?E=J 2CC6DE65 2?5 492C865 @?6 4@F?E @7 92?5=:?8 DE@=6? 8@@5 2?5 EH@ 4@F?ED @7 E967E H9:49 96 A=62565 ?@E 8F:E=J E@@]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%9@F89 96 492?865 9:D A=62 @? 2== @776?D6D @? |2J `h E9:D J62C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq2C<6C H2D 2=D@ 8:G6? 2 aa\>@?E9 AC@32E:@? C6BF:C6>6?E 2?5 7:?65 £dgf WSfh_X 7@C 4@FCE 4@DED 5FC:?8 9:D D6?E6?4:?8 2E (:82? |28:DEC2E6D’ r@FCE @? ~4E] `e]k^Am
Stones replaced in by Rufford and Holmeswood parish councillor Matt Smith in December 2025. (Matt Smith via SWNS)
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2EE D2:5 :E H2D “G6CJ D2E:D7J:?8” E92E q2C<6C H2D “3C@F89E E@ ;FDE:46” 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ’D 677@CE H2D “H@CE9 :E]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 C6:?DE2==65 E96 DE@?6D 2=@?8D:56 p?E9@?J y2>6D r@?DECF4E:@? :? s646>36C =2DE J62C[ H9:49 96 D2:5 H2D 2 “8C62E r9C:DE>2D AC6D6?E 7@C E96 G:==286D]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm!r $62? s2=3J[ @7 E96 $@FE9 #FC2= %2D< u@C46[ D2:5i “%9:D EJA6 @7 4C:>6 92D 2 D:8?:7:42?E :>A24E @? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 3@E9 7:?2?4:2==J 2?5 6>@E:@?2==J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“%9:D 42D6 9:89=:89ED E96 DEC@?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H6 92G6 56G6=@A65 H:E9 @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 56>@?DEC2E6D E96 67764E:G6?6DD @7 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C E@ E24<=6 CFC2= 2?5 96C:E286 4C:>6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“x H@F=5 =:<6 E@ E92?< E96 =@42= C6D:56?ED 7@C E96:C DFAA@CE E9C@F89@FE E96 :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 2D H6== 2D E9@D6 H9@ 82G6 E96:C E:>6 E@ C63F:=5 E96 H2== 7C66 @7 492C86]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2C< w2CC:D@?[ 9625 @7 96C:E286 4C:>6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9:DE@C:46?8=2?5]@C8]F<^Qmw:DE@C:4 t?8=2?5k^2m[ D2:5i “%96 DF446DD7F= C6EFC? @7 E96D6 9:DE@C:4 4@A:?8 DE@?6D 56>@?DEC2E6D E96 :>A@CE2?E 4@?EC:3FE:@? E92E =@42= 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 E96 A@=:46 42? >2<6 E@ D2768F2C5 @FC 96C:E286]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“%C25:E:@?2= DE@?6 H2==D 2C6 2? :?EC:?D:4 A2CE @7 E96 {2?42D9:C6 =2?5D42A6 2?5 E96:C AC@E64E:@? 96=AD E@ >2:?E2:? :ED 5:DE:?4E:G6 492C24E6C 7@C 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.