Two men are being hunted after a rare Harry Potter first edition worth £40,000 was stolen from a book shop.
The hardcover copy of J’K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was taken during a raid on S N Books in Thetford, Norfolk.
The prized novel, stored in a red, custom made box, when it was snatched between 11.50pm on January 8 and 1.30am the following day.
The hardcover copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was taken during a raid on S N Books in Thetford, Norfolk
The prized novel, the first in the series written by J K Rowling, was stored in a red, custom made box when it was stolen between 11.50pm on January 8 and 1.30am the following day
Raiders also made off with a number of other valuable novels worth thousands of pounds.
Other titles pinched include the Colour of Magic by Terry Prachett first edition worth £9,000 and four sets of Winnie the Pooh first editions worth £5,000.
The owner of S N Books, one of the largest online book retailers in the UK, have spoke of their shock after the break-in.
Speaking under anonymity, they said: ‘I’ve never been burgled before and it’s really bizarre what’s actually happened.
‘The person stole a really small amount of collectible books- which are of an exceptionally high value.
Thieves pile the stolen books into their car after the raid in Thetford, Norfolk
The men (pictured) stolen rare first editions worth thousands during the break-in on January 9
‘But they left a lot of things that are obviously valuable- they left computers and other things that were valuable.’
Amongst the other items stolen is a hardcover first edition of The Hobbit from 1937 worth around £7,000.
A first impression of The Great Gatsby from 1925 in a dark blue custom case worth around £2,000.
Other titles pinched from the book shop (pictured) include the Colour of Magic by Terry Prachett first edition worth £9,000 and four sets of Winnie the Pooh first editions worth £5,000
A paperback copy of Brief History of Time from 1983 with a thumbprint signature by Stephen Hawking.
Two first editions of the Gunslinger by Stephen King worth around £2,000 each.
PC Gideon Weigelt-Holmes, of Thetford Police, said: ‘These books are very rare and in some cases unique and not the sort of thing you see every day.
‘I am urging people, especially book dealers or those working in specialist book shops to be vigilant in case they are offered for sale.’
Anyone with information should contact PC Weigelt-Holmes at Thetford police on 101.