Police catch history buff stealing ‘spiritual’ bluestone rocks from a mountain to make his own Stonehenge-style garden feature
- Two men spotted illegally digging up the ‘spiritual’ stones in Preseli mountains
- The theft was filmed by a concerned onlooker who handed footage to police
- Police are now warning that it is illegal to take the bluestone from the hills
A history-lover was caught by police stealing protected bluestone rocks from a mountain to make his own Stonehenge garden feature.
Two men were spotted illegally digging up the ‘spiritual’ stones – the same type as at Stonehenge – from a mountainside to load them into a back of a car in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire.
But police were able to track down one thief down – and found a stone being used as a garden ornament ten miles away.
Ancient bluestone rocks form the smaller part of Stonehenge and are found in the Preseli mountains in Pembrokeshire.
Ancient bluestone rocks form the smaller part of Stonehenge and are found in the Preseli mountains (pictured) in Pembrokeshire
Scientists discovered the stones were quarried in the Welsh hills before being transported 180 miles to the prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain more than 4,000 years ago.
Police are now warning that it is illegal to take the bluestone from the hills.
The theft was filmed by a concerned onlooker who handed mobile phone footage to police.
Inspector Reuben Palin, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: ‘While we are aware that bluestone is regularly taken from the Preseli area, it is not easy to find out who is taking it, or where it is going.
‘This case was quite unusual in that there was actually a witness to the theft, who swiftly started filming while the stone was dug up and put into a car.
‘We would like to thank the witness for acting so quickly, and for providing us with the evidence we needed to recover the stone.’
Scientists discovered the stones were quarried in the Welsh hills before being transported 180 miles to Stonehenge (pictured) on Salisbury Plain more than 4,000 years ago
Police say the man was spoken to in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, and said he did not know it was illegal to take the stone.
The stone has now been given to a chapel which has taken ownership.
Inspector Palin added: ‘While it might not seem like taking bluestone is causing any harm, it is in fact illegal.
‘These ancient stones are part of the Mynydd Preseli Site of Special Scientific Interest and Preseli Special Area of Conservation, and it is a crime to take them.
‘In the past we have had people taking bluestone for the spiritual and healing property it is believed to possess, and in this case a large stone was taken for decoration purposes.
‘We urge visitors to the area to respect the area, and not to remove anything for personal or financial gain.’