Three priceless Napoleonic altar plaques stolen in a burglary 12 years ago have been recovered and returned to St Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough after a chance discovery by an antiques dealer.

The historically significant items were taken during a burglary in February 2014 at the crypt of Napoleon Bonaparte III, the last Emperor of France, whose mausoleum is housed at the abbey.

The plaques were feared lost until February 10 this year, when Derbyshire antiques dealer Paul Gostelow contacted police after recognising two of the items.

Mr Gostelow identified their Napoleonic origin from a ball-and-crown detail in the frame, a symbol he recognised from an episode of the 1990s BBC television series Lovejoy.

The call was received by PC Mark Webb, heritage crime specialist with Hampshire Constabulary’s Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force.

Checks with the International Stolen Art Register confirmed the plaques were those stolen in the 2014 burglary.

Officers travelled to Derbyshire last week to recover the artefacts, which PC Webb has since returned to St Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough for restoration before being reinstated in the crypt.

Police said inquiries remain ongoing and several lines of investigation are being pursued as officers continue efforts to locate the third plaque, which is still missing.