FOURTEEN items including two rare Victorian mourning broaches have been stolen from the Museum of Dartmoor Life over the past week.

Museum staff and volunteers are shocked by the theft which is only the second since the museum of Dartmoor Life opened more than 20 years ago.

Thieves broke into a plate glass cabinet and took the two onyx, oval-shaped broaches, an ebony broach, a circular pendant, snuff box, carved ivory embroidery stiletto, perfume bottles, an onyx cross and a brass candle holder amongst other items. The total value is estimated at between £500 and £800.

Museum curator Maurie Webber said the theft happened during opening hours but there was so much packing going on at the moment in preparation for a £600,000 enhancement project that other visitors would not have noticed anything unusual.

?The annoying part of it is that in three weeks time everything will have been packed away because we are closing for eight months,? she said. ?It must have been very deliberate because it is probably the biggest glass case we have and getting inside it is no easy task ? it?s almost a case for TV?s magician come detective Jonathan Creek.?

Police are asking people to contact them if they are offered any of these items for sale.

Mrs Webber said the mourning broaches, which widows wore to show they were in mourning in Victorian times, were of particular special value to the museum.

?Mourning broaches are not made or worn anymore so it is a past tradition that we are not likely to ever see again,? she said. ?You certainly do not see too many of them around these days.?

Anyone with information about this crime should call Okehampton Police on 08705 777444.