Captain Hawkins, explosives expert, at Canterbury Cathedral

Mar. 03, 1968 - Gang Raid Canterbury Cathedral. A gang broke into Canterbury Cathedral and stole antique silver worth £17, 000. One of the stolen items was a 15th century Italian processional cross worth £5, 000. The gang got into the Cathedral by forcing a gate into the cloisters and smashing through an oak door. Then they tried to blast open two safes which contain the Cathedral's most valuable treasures, but they were unsuccessful and left gelignite piles around the safes. Police cleared the cathedral until a scientist from Scotland Yard's forensic laboratory made the gelignite safe. Photo Shows: Captain R V Hawkins, explosives expert from the Met Police labs leaving the Cathedral after removing the charge left by the gang around the two safes

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5000 Blast Broke Canterbury Capt Cathedrals Cleared Cloisters Contains Expert Explosives Forcing Forensic Gelignite Hawkins Labs Piles Processional Removing Safe Safes Smashing Stolen Treasures Tried Unsuccessful Valuable Worth

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