J.K. Rowling appeals to fans as Harry Potter prequel stolen

J.K. Rowling has appealed to her fans to help find a stolen Harry Potter prequel.

The 51-year-old author penned the 800 word story to raise money for British writers' association English Pen. It sold for $32,100 at Sotheby's auction house in London in 2008.

The short story and jewelry were stolen from a house in Kings Heath, a suburb of Birmingham, England in a burglary last month (Apr17).

West Midlands Police officers have appealed to Harry Potter fans to help them to find the unique handwritten story.

"We are asking #HarryPotter fans to help share our appeal after a rare Harry Potter prequel by @jk_rowling was stolen," officers wrote on Twitter.

"The story, penned personally by @jk_rowling over 2 sides of an A5 postcard is extremely valuable & stolen during a burglary in #KingsHeath."

J.K. Rowling joined the appeal, quoting the police force's tweet and adding, "PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS IF YOU'RE OFFERED IT."

The prequel is reportedly set three years before Harry Potter's birth, and depicts the antics of Harry's father, James Potter, and his godfather Sirius Black in an altercation with the police.