A priceless collection of historic military sketches, valued at around half a million pounds, has been lost forever after a van containing them was stolen and deliberately set on fire in West Lothian.
Irreplaceable Artefacts Stolen and Destroyed
The devastating incident occurred on the evening of 19 November. A silver Ford Transit van, registration SG16 SUF, was taken from Heron Square in the Deans area of Livingston. Inside were approximately 1,700 historic drawingsRoyal Engineers Museum.
Police Scotland report that the theft happened at about 11.30pm. A man wearing a face covering was seen entering the vehicle before driving eastbound on the A89 towards Newbridge, near Ratho.
Vehicle Found Stripped and Burnt Out
The stolen van was discovered the following day in the Ratho area. It had been comprehensively stripped of parts before being set alight. The intense fire consumed the vehicle and its unique contents, destroying centuries of military history in minutes.
The sketches are described as irreplaceable artefacts of significant cultural and historical value, with an estimated insurance value of £500,000. Their loss represents a severe blow to the nation's archival heritage.
Police Launch Extensive Investigation
Constable Teri McEwan of Police Scotland is leading the inquiry. Officers are conducting extensive enquiries, trawling through CCTV footage and visiting nearby properties in a bid to identify the culprits.
In an appeal to the public, Constable McEwan stated: "I am now asking anyone with information, or anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area around the time, to get in touch with us."
Police are particularly keen to review any private CCTV, doorbell camera footage, or dashcam recordings from the areas of Livingston, Newbridge, and Ratho around the time of the theft and fire. They urge anyone with potential evidence to come forward immediately to assist the ongoing investigation.
