If you've been broken into, check eBay

If your house has been broken into, the chances of the police getting your stuff back is low.

Although your insurance may cover the cost of material things (e.g. TV's, phones, etc) it won't bring back sentimental items.

If you suspect that people may think your item has some antique value, try eBay for about a fortnight after the theft. You may be shocked to find someone selling it. EBay provides a way for people to get rid of stolen items without having to risk selling them face to face. This doesn't mean that eBay turns a blind eye to such things, and they will act if you highlight the problem to them.

If you see your item for sale, contact the police and give them the details asap. You may also want to contact eBay, although they will not reveal information about the seller without police instruction.

If you fear that the item may be sold quickly, you could buy it - then do a chargeback through paypal. You may be better leaving the detective work to the police, though.