Thieves steal Gove 'treasure trove'

14/10/11

By Richard Cranidge

A "middle-class treasure trove" was lost when thieves stole the education secretary's car in London, his wife said.

The 28 CD collection of The Brothers Karamazov by the Russian author Dostoevsky was among the items in Michael Gove's Skoda Octavia when it was taken.

In her column in the Times newspaper, writer Sarah Vine revealed Mr Gove also lost a Best Of The Smiths album, the opera Parsifal by Wagner, album Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons as well as speeches by former American president Ronald Reagan.

"It was, in short, a middle-class treasure trove," Ms Vine said. She appealed for help in catching those responsible, saying it shouldn't take a "Cracker-style forensic psychologist".

"After all, how many Dostoevsky-addicted, Reagan-loving hoodies can there be living in White City?" she queried.

The burned-out vehicle, which had a bumper sticker supporting Camberley Town Football Club, was discovered at Wormwood Scrubs.