Napier Antique and Jewellery Centre was hit by silver thieves just after Christmas Day. Photo / Jack Riddell
Napier Antique and Jewellery Centre was hit by silver thieves just after Christmas Day. Photo / Jack Riddell
A well-known Napier antique store has been targeted by thieves on Boxing Day, and the owner thinks the soaring price of silver is partially to blame.
Napier Antique and Jewellery Centre sits in an art deco building on the corner of Tennyson St and Cathedral Lane.
Inside, over 600sq mof thousands of rare and unique antiquities are stored inside large glass cabinets.
About midnight on Boxing Day morning, burglars cut the lock on the business’ metal gate, kicked the glass panel on the front door, smashed three glass cabinets full of silver, stole some, and then took off.
A police spokesperson said police were following positive lines of inquiry into the break-in.
“This is stuff that we could have sold and set us up for a quiet winter.
“There’s going to be less items to showcase now, but we’ll make the most of it.”
The door panel the thieves kicked into gain entry into Napier Antique and Jewellery Centre. Photo / Jack Riddell
It was not the first time the store has been targeted by thieves, but Mason said it was the first time the store’s silver had been targeted.
The price of silver has more than doubled over the past 12 months, from $53 an ounce on December 24, 2024, to just over $123 on Christmas Eve this year, according to mygold.co.nz.
Strong demand for the metal from the technology sector outstripped supplies and led to silver even outperforming gold on the stock market.
