One of Adelaide’s richest men was victim of art and sports memorabilia robbery
OFF THE RECORD EXCLUSIVE: One of Adelaide’s richest men has been robbed of dozens of pieces of valuable sports memorabilia, including bats signed by Don Bradman and a baseball cap autographed by three Formula One champions.
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ADELAIDE tycoon Robert Gerard has a warning for anyone offered any valuable-looking sport collectables in a pub this week.
“I certainly would not be buying any sporting memorabilia in any pubs for the next few days — it’s going to be hot,” Gerard says.
The Advertiser’s Off The Record column can exclusively reveal that Mr Gerard — one of Adelaide’s richest men, and a prominent Liberal Party donor — was robbed this week of about 65 items of sporting souvenirs and art. They were being stored in a warehouse in Cavan when they were looted.
SA Police this afternoon released details of the heist and resulting arrests, but did not disclose the victim was the former Clipsal magnate and prominent philanthropist.
Mr Gerard is well known for his love of sport. Over the years he has been a keen collector of all sorts of memorabilia from Commonwealth and Olympic Games, footy, basketball — you name it.
He has also been a significant backer of the Adelaide Crows, the planned South Australian Sports Museum and the push to bring the Commonwealth Games to Adelaide.
Police said they were called to a warehouse on Port Wakefield Rd, Cavan at 12.45pm on Tuesday in response to reports that the premises had been broken into and a significant amount of property had been stolen.
An investigation led police to a house in Taperoo that evening, where officers found evidence in relation to the thefts, including 65 items of art and sports memorabilia.
However, many valuable items were not recovered in the search, including a First Fleet Landing painting, three framed cricket bats signed by Sir Donald Bradman, four Clipsal race car front guards autographed by Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife and Wayne Gardner, along with Adelaide Crows numberplates (CROWSBB).
Chinese jade vases, a mosaic horse, a Formula One baseball cap signed by Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher and a set of Olympic lapel pins also remain missing.
A 46-year-old Ottoway man and a 51-year-old Taperoo woman have been arrested and charged with serious criminal trespass and theft over the incident.
They were bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
Anyone with information about the theft or the stolen items should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at crimestopperssa.com.au.