A teenage gang stole a US world champion wrestler's belt worth $2,000 from his dressing room at the Fairfield Halls last week.

The championship belt belonging to wrestler Tatanka, was taken from his dressing room between 9.30pm and 9.45pm, during the interval of an All Star wrestling event at the Fairfield, Park Lane, on Tuesday, October 16.

Tatanka, real name Chris Charvis, 41, told the Guardian: "I put my belt down and went next door for about three minutes to check something with the referee, but when I came back it was gone. The belt cannot be duplicated, it's unique and I want it back."

The belt which helps Tatanka earn thousands of dollars a night, is a leather and gold WWF International Belt, featuring seven gold plates, an eagle motif, and a number of stones.

A 28-year-old female receptionist told police she saw three young white males, aged about 12, running across the car park near the Barclay Road side of the building. One of them carried a large black object on his shoulder, thought to be the belt, but they managed to evade Fairfield security who gave chase.

Tatanka added:"Hopefully the belt can just be found, but I will definitely pursue this as far as I can. I don't want it to go that far, but legal action is a possibility."

But the Fairfield told the Guardian that they were not responsible for dressing room security.

Fairfield marketing executive, Aletta Barry, said:"Our se-curity is completely in line with every other venue in the country.

"The working promotional company were issued with keys and it's their responsibility to make sure their dressing rooms stay locked."

This is the third recent theft from the Fairfield. A coach was stolen from car park two weeks ago and five paintings were stolen in June.

Anyone with information should call PC Phil Palmer on 020 8649 1377.

October 23, 2001 09:30