Met Police interview man over alleged British Museum thefts as sacked curator's Twitter name matches ebay seller

author: FutureCar Staff    

A man is being questioned by Metropolitan Police officers in connection with missing items from the British Museum. The museum recently announced that it is investigating items that have been reported as missing, stolen, or damaged from its collection. The police have stated that no arrests have been made at this time and that they are working closely with the museum. Further information regarding the investigation is not being provided at this time.

The British Museum has taken action by terminating the employment of an unnamed staff member and initiating legal proceedings. The missing items, which include gold jewelry, semi-precious stones, and glass, were taken prior to 2023 over a significant period of time. The museum launched an investigation after it was discovered that some of the missing artifacts were being sold on eBay for as little as £40.

Dr. Ittai Gradel, an antiquities dealer, brought this to the museum's attention in February 2021 but claims that his concerns were ignored. The director of the British Museum, Dr. Hartwig Fischer, stated that the museum had taken the concerns seriously but was not aware of the full extent of the missing items until a full audit in 2022. The museum is now cooperating with the police investigation and focusing on recovering the missing items.

The museum has not disclosed the exact number or nature of the missing items, only stating that they are small pieces dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD. It is believed that a thief operated within the museum for two decades, taking advantage of the lack of proper cataloging and the fact that many of the missing items were not on public display. Some of the missing items may have been melted down or had gems removed from their settings.

Martin Henig, a professor of archaeology at Oxford University, expressed concern that if more items are missing than currently known, it could indicate a larger problem. The British Museum takes the issue of missing items very seriously and reports losses to the trustees on an annual basis. It is important to conduct a proper audit to ensure that items do not continue to disappear from the museum's collection.

FutureCar Staff