Police used a drone and police dogs to try and hunt down burglars who stole £14,000 worth of silver bullion and coins.

The intruders scaled a fence at the private residence in Chatham while the owners were watching television upstairs on Friday evening.

Andreas Silbermann, who runs his business Kent Bullion from his gated home in Chartwell Court, believes the men “knew what they were looking for” when they snatched about 14 kilos of the precious metal from his downstairs office.

Mr Silbermann, who buys silver, scrap gold, coins, vintage jewellery and watches from customers across the south-east, said he and his partner Angie Burdett, 54, heard a “thud” sound and a door opening at around 7pm.

He said: ”I could have missed them by a minute.

“We were just sitting down watching the television and having a Friday evening drink. My partner heard a noise and we just thought it was the cat. I must have been four yards away from him.”

Mr Silbermann called the police who arrived about 15 minutes later having already sent out dogs and a drone to scour the nearby Victoria Gardens.

British Transport Police was also involved in the search after the break-in at the house at New Cut near Chatham railway station.

The businessman said: ” I would assume it was somebody who has been here before. They took two boxes of silver bullion bars and a small amount of collectable coins.

“What made me laugh is that they even took my scales.”

He said: “They got over the garden fence which is, probably about five feet at the back. They must have piggy-backed over using one of my chairs.

“It wouldn’t have been necessarily heavy, but I would assume there were two of them and they probably had a vehicle.”

The dad-of-two, who has been trading for 22 years, said it was unlikely that the haul had gone out of the country as police would have ports and airports covered.”

He said: ” I am well known as a reputable dealer. I have customers here in Medway, Thanet and Southend

“We discuss valuation over the phone and then they visit for transactions at my office.

“I have yet to work out exactly how much it was worth. The silver bars alone would be between £12,000 and £14,000.

“I am assuming they must have known what were they looking for as they left other metals.”

Mr Silbermann added: “Something like this is a hammer blow financially and personally. I do this because I believe in what I do, and because I am appreciated and respected for it.”

‘I would have hurried down if I knew what was happening...’

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 7.15pm on Friday 15 December 2023, to a report of a burglary at a residential address near New Cut, Chatham.

“Officers attended and a search for suspects was assisted by British Transport Police and a drone.

“No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.”

Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01795 419119, quoting reference 46/220852/23.