BRIDLINGTON'S Mayor has praised the police for not giving up on the search for the civic chain stolen last month.
Links from the chain have been found by Humberside Police after thousands of pounds worth of jewellery were recovered.
Officers believe the recovered horde of stolen items may have been taken in a number of burglaries across Bridlington and North Yorkshire over the last year.
Mayor Councillor Michael Charlesworth was devastated after his home was burgled while he was in hospital.
He told the Mail he did not think he would ever see the chain again.
The burglary happened at his semi-detached home in First Avenue in October. At the time, Cllr Charlesworth was recuperating after suffering from a stroke.
As well as the civic chains, jewellery belonging to Cllr Charlesworth's late wife, Jean, and a laptop, on which he was writing her memoir, were also stolen.
The chains, jewellery and laptop were all in a safe, which the offenders took during the raid.
He said: "Full marks to the police. It happened a few weeks ago but they have not given up.
"They seem to have struck gold literally.
"They have only found one link and a considerable amount of the chain is not there.
"But having one bit means there should be a trail leading to the rest of it.
"Now I would like to see some justice."
Yesterday, detectives invited those who may have been the victim of a burglary to view the haul at Bridlington Police Station and identify property that may have been taken.
Among the other items are some fine jewellery, watches, earrings, a Pandora chain, costume jewellery, cuff links, rings and sentimental items.
An off-duty police officer alerted police after a woman tried to sell the items at a pawn shop in Bridlington.
Detective Sergeant Matthew Peach, from Bridlington CID, said: "Bridlington has recently been hit hard by an unusually high influx of dwelling burglaries, despite all our efforts.
"I am delighted an off-duty police officer used her police experience and called us, when she thought something was not quite right.
"As a result, we recovered a large quantity of jewellery.
"We believe may have come from a number of burglaries in or around the Bridlington area."
DS Peach hopes all the stolen items will be claimed by their owners.
He said: "It has been known for a victim of a burglary not to notice anything missing until a significant time had passed and then notice something was missing.
"If you recognise any of the items or you believe you may have been a victim of a burglary, please contact me on 101."
Mark Mattock, 38, of Richmond Street, Bridlington, appeared before Beverley Magistrates yesterday morning charged with handling stolen goods. The case was adjourned.
A 26-year-old Flamborough woman was arrested on Thursday and was due to appear before Bridlington Magistrates this morning charged with handling stolen goods.
