Trophy worth £500,000 stolen from Glasgow museum in overnight heist

A global search has been launched for a historic trophy worth almost £500,000, which has been stolen from a museum in Glasgow.

The valuable gold Lipton Cup was taken from its display case at the Riverside Museum overnight between Wednesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 23, 2025.

The 18-karat trophy, created by Tiffany and Co, was presented to Glaswegian Sir Thomas Lipton in New York in December 1930.

The Scot received the cup, estimated to be worth £490,000, following his fifth and final attempt to win the America’s Cup.

His trustees gifted the item to the people of Glasgow the year following his death in 1931.

The Lipton Trophy is valued at £490,000 Glasgow Life

Glasgow Life confirmed they were advised not to disclose information on the heist until now.

Hunt for missing artefact

The antique is highly distinctive with two handles and a detachable domed lid, set atop a square silver plinth base. It features a representation of the America’s Cup on an enamel shield depicting the American flag in red, white and blue.

Other recognisable decorations include enamel flags representing the Royal Ulster Yacht Club and Lipton’s last racing yacht, Shamrock V, as well as ornate gold ropework. On each side of the silver base, in gold relief, are four symbols of Fraternity, Integrity, Courage and Perseverance.

The missing artefact has been added to the Art Loss Register, the world’s largest private database of stolen art, and has been circulated via Interpol.

Detective sergeant Bob Carrigan said: “We received a report of a housebreaking and the theft of The Lipton Cup from a display case at Riverside Museum on Pointhouse Place in the city. The incident happened between 5pm on Wednesday, October 22, and 10am on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

“Extensive enquiries remain ongoing and have included CCTV review and conventional enquiry, including within the art world. The cup has been circulated as a stolen artefact via Interpol and other industry stolen property registers.

“This trophy is of significant historic value and belongs to the people of Glasgow. I am now appealing to the public for their help as part of our investigation to find and return the item to the museum.

“Anyone with any information, no matter how small it may seem, is asked to contact the police. It may help us piece together what happened and find the trophy.”

Jane Rowlands, head of Museums and Collections at Glasgow Life, added: “Our priority is to see this treasured object safely returned to the people of Glasgow, and we would encourage anyone who may have information about the cup’s whereabouts to tell the police.”