What the police know about the theft at the British Museum

Review - What the police know about the theft at the British Museum

An independent investigation into thousands of artifacts stolen from the British Museum has been completed. According to the museum, the investigation concluded that an estimated 2000 objects - mainly uncatalogued gems and jewelry from the collections on Ancient Greece and Rome - had been stolen or damaged. Of these, only 351 objects have been returned so far.

The recovery is proving difficult. A member of staff who has since been dismissed and is suspected of being responsible for the thefts is not cooperating, Chairman of the Board of Trustees George Osborne told the BBC. "One of the things we need to get to the bottom of is the exact motive of the person we think is responsible," Osborne was quoted as saying. However, he added that the person had neither commented nor cooperated.

Antiques dealer discovered items on eBay

The results of the investigation remained largely under wraps due to the ongoing police investigation. However, as reported by the BBC, it is believed that the suspect made around 100,000 pounds (approximately 116,000 euros) from the sale of stolen items.

According to an antiques dealer who discovered artifacts from the museum on the online auction platform Ebay and alerted the museum management two years ago, they are said to have been offered for an average of 50 pounds (around 58 euros).

When the theft became public in August, museum director Hartwig Fischer, who had headed the British Museum since 2016, resigned with immediate effect.

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1. The stolen jewelry and gemstones from Ancient Greece and Rome, valued at the British Museum, are often sought after in the world of antique collectors.
2. The BBC conducted an interview with former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chairman of the British Museum's Board of Trustees, George Osborne, discussing the ongoing theft case.
3. The British Museum, located in the heart of London, is one of the world's most famous museums, housing a vast collection of artifacts from various civilizations.
4. The investigation into the theft at the British Museum revealed that the crime was not an isolated event, with criminality involving the theft of valuable artifacts becoming more frequent in Great Britain.
5. The investigation found that the majority of stolen items were gemstones and jewelry, which were sold on eBay by an uncooperative suspect.
6. The British Museum, despite being a symbol of Britain's rich cultural heritage, has faced numerous challenges with theft and security incidents in recent years, putting a spotlight on the need for improved protection measures.
7. Despite receiving significant support from the Greek government, Greek artifacts continue to be a target for theft, with many being smuggled out of the country and ending up on the black market, often sold online through platforms like eBay.

Source: www.stern.de