A WIZARD'S hat and three gold coins were stolen from the set of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at Leavesden Studios, it was revealed this week another sign that people cannot wait to get their hands on a piece of one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year.

Detectives from Hertfordshire Constabulary have confirmed the film's producers, Warner Brothers, reported the theft in March.

The items went missing in February but the filmmakers did not realise the props had been stolen until they were spotted on an auction web site.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "We have been investigating the thefts since we heard from Warner Brothers in March.

"Since then we have not received any other reports of anything else going missing from the set in Leavesden."

The spokesman added there was no information available about the progress of the investigation.

November 6, 2001 10:30