Date: 2nd May 2003

Stolen Monroe Ring 'For Sale'


A stolen diamond-encrusted ring which belonged to Marilyn Monroe has been offered for sale, according to a caller to the BBC's Crimewatch.

The gold ring, which has an M motif and was given to the star by her second husband Joe DiMaggio, was on display at an exhibition at County Hall in central London.

It was stolen along with a gold bangle in April while the gallery was packed with about 150 visitors.

Police received several calls after the jewellery, worth up to £250,000 ($400,000), was featured on Crimewatch on Wednesday night.

A man captured on CCTV leaving the exhibition was identified by a Crimewatch viewer after police said they wanted to question him in connection with the theft.

Another caller said someone had tried to sell him the ring.

Due for auction

Detective Inspector Tim Forber of the Metropolitan Police also said two other people had called to say they had seen the ring for sale.

Marilyn Monroe - Life Of A Legend is billed as "the biggest ever exhibition devoted to the life of the ultimate screen icon".

The jewellery, which was on loan from auction house Cooper Owen, was due to go under the hammer in September.

Highlights of the exhibition include a bed in which the star slept, and the dress and jewellery worn on her first date with Joe Di Maggio.

Works by Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Henri Cartier-Bresson, inspired by the Some Like It Hot (1959) star, are also on display.


Source: BBC

Source: Press Release