The gang who stole a golden toilet worth almost £5million may have carried out a second loo-crative raid on a stately home.
Crooks took the £4.8million functional artwork – entitled America – from Blenheim Palace on Saturday.
And it has emerged that days earlier priceless heirlooms were stolen from Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire – just over 30 miles away.
Crooks shattered a display case and took jewellery and artefacts before making off in a 4x4.
A silver caviar box and gold cigarette case made by Faberge, as well as a 1793 snuffbox were among items stolen on September 8.
Gloucestershire Police, who have footage of suspects carrying a sledgehammer, said they were “open minded” about links to other “high-value” raids.
And Christopher Moses, from private security firm Blackstone Consultancy said the two crimes may have been executed by the same crooks, despite the targets being “quite different.”
He said: “A gold toilet is very specific and I’d expect has already been melted down or was stolen to order.
“Sudeley is not as well known as Blenheim and more of a smash and grab raid.
“But there are only a few gangs in operation who do this kind of thing.
“It takes planning and experience – they will have a network set up.”
He added promotion of stately homes on social media gave crooks vital insight for planning raids.
Castle owner Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe, is offering a £10,000 reward for the return of her property.
She said: “There were beautiful artefacts on display for everyone and very precious.”
The gold toilet theft had echoes of a “heist movie”, Blenheim’s chief executive Dominic Hare said.
It happened just two days after the 18-carat creation by Italian Maurizio Cattelan went on display in the Oxfordshire mansion.
A 66-year-old man arrested on Saturday and a 36 year old man arrested Tuesday have been bailed.