FOUR years have passed since one of Oxford’s biggest heists in decades – the burglary of three paintings from Christ Church Picture Gallery.

The incident happened at about 11pm on March 14, 2020.

The alleged gang had used ladders stolen from the meadows to climb onto the roof of the gallery, near the College’s Canterbury Gate in Merton Street, and smashed their way in through a skylight.

They removed three paintings from their frames before returning the way they came.

The paintings stolen – a landscape by Salvator Rosa, Antony Van Dyck’s A Soldier on Horseback and A Boy Drinking by Annibale Carracci – were on two opposite sides of the room.

Oxford Mail: Antony Van Dyck's 'A Soldier on Horseback', dated to 1616 Picture: Christ Church/TVPAntony Van Dyck's 'A Soldier on Horseback', dated to 1616 Picture: Christ Church/TVP (Image: Christ Church)

Four years on, the Old Master paintings have still not been recovered and the culprits are at large.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail previously, Jacqueline Thalmann, a curator, said: “We discovered it more or less as it happened.

“The alarm system worked as it was supposed to and within minutes we were here and found it.

Oxford Mail: The empty frames showing where the stolen paintings once hung have been left up in the Christ Church galleryThe empty frames showing where the stolen paintings once hung have been left up in the Christ Church gallery (Image: Christ Church)

“There is that split second you think it’s not something that would happen. Then it dawns on you that this is not normal. You see the frames lying on the floor empty. I don’t think it has sunk in. It’s still very unbelievable.

“We want to leave the empty frames as an idea we think they will come back. They have to come back, they belong to this collection; they’ve been shared with the public for over 250 years.”

Oxford Mail: Annibale Carracci's 'A Boy Drinking', dated to 1580, was a favourite of visitors to Christ Church Picture Gallery Picture: Christ Church/TVPAnnibale Carracci's 'A Boy Drinking', dated to 1580, was a favourite of visitors to Christ Church Picture Gallery Picture: Christ Church/TVP (Image: TVP)

She added: “Everyone involved was shocked, sad, angry – and still angry – that someone had the audacity to violate this.

"Yes, the paintings belong to Christ Church but Christ Church made them accessible to the public for 250 years. We shared them. We look after them, we care for them, we curate.

“That, I think, is where the anger comes from – that somebody now, very selfishly, has them whatever they [have done] with them – they might be under someone’s sofa. Who knows?

No arrests have been in connection with the burglary.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "Thames Valley Police continues its investigation.

"If anyone has any information we would ask them to provide the information by calling 101 quoting reference 43200087031, or if you do not wish to speak to the police you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Oxford Mail: Salvator Rosa's 'A Rocky Coast, with Soliders Studying a Plan', dated to the late 1640s Picture: Christ Church/TVPSalvator Rosa's 'A Rocky Coast, with Soliders Studying a Plan', dated to the late 1640s Picture: Christ Church/TVP (Image: TVP)

Detective Inspector James Mather previously commented that the thieves were believed to have escaped through Christ Church Meadows, via Jubilee Bridge, to Iffley Road.

However, officers were also considering whether the burglars had left via the river.

He said: “People within the art world and beyond are aware that these paintings have been stolen and so they will be extremely difficult to sell through any legal channels."

The case was also featured on BBC Crimewatch in 2021.