QE2 final journey badges stolen, on sale on eBay

FINAL JOURNEY: The QE2 arrives in Dubai on November 26. (Getty Images)

Police in England are investigating how commemorative QE2 badges bought for the crew of the famous ship for its final journey to Dubai have ended up being offered for sale on the auction website eBay.

The badges were meant to be a personal gift from the master of the ship so Captain Ian McNaught was stunned when scores of the surprise presents went missing, only to reappear for sale on the internet for £100 each, English website Thisishampshire reported on Wednesday.

Captain McNaught and his wife Sue were keen to mark QE2’s final, historic voyage and so they ordered 1,200 highly collectable badges to be given to each crew member as the liner leaves Southampton for Dubai next week.

The world’s best loved cruise liner will arrive in Dubai at the end of her ultimate voyage on Wednesday November 26.

Once she arrives in the emirate, the ownership of QE2 will be transferred to developer Nakheel.

Over the coming months she will undergo extensive refurbishment before taking her place at a specially constructed berth on the Palm Jumeirah – where she will become a floating hotel and must-visit attraction for many thousands of visitors and tourists.

Police in Hampshire, southern England, have now issued a warning to anyone tempted to buy one of the specially designed pins over the internet that they risk having to forfeit the item, the website reported.

eBay traders are offering the badges together with a certificate of authenticity which reads ‘Final Voyage to Dubai’.

Sue McNaught told the website tat when the box of badges arrived, it was obvious that it had already been opened and re-sealed and about 100 of the badges were missing.

"Then when we heard that they were being offered on eBay for anything between £75 and £100 I immediately contacted the police in Southampton.

“It is so disappointing as we wanted to give all the crew something with which to remember their time on QE2 but now it has all been spoiled.”

Hampshire police confirmed that they were actively investigating the complaint.

An eBay spokesman said the company would take action against any site users suspected of selling stolen goods once they were contacted by the police.

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