Police interview man over ‘thefts’ of 2k priceless artefacts at British Museum

A person has been interviewed by police after “close to 2,000” artefacts price thousands and thousands of kilos had been believed to have been stolen.

The Metropolitan Police interviewed the person yesterday following the alleged thefts on the British Museum.

But the power has confirmed no arrests have been made in reference to the case the place it’s thought the objects might have been offered at knock-down costs or melted down over the course of years.

The Met Police confirmed the interview with the person to Express.co.uk and stated enquiries proceed.

A spokesman for the power stated: “A man was interviewed on Wednesday, 23 August under caution having voluntarily attended a police station.

“We will not be providing any further information at this time. Enquiries continue.”

The Telegraph reported that sources throughout the museum consider the variety of lacking artefacts is greater than 1,000 and “closer to 2,000”, nonetheless the world-renowned establishment has but to substantiate the exact determine.

The majority of the objects in query had been small items saved in a storeroom belonging to one of many museum’s collections.

They embody gold jewelry and gems of semi valuable stones and glass courting from the fifteenth century BC to the nineteenth century AD. 

None had lately been on public show they usually had been saved primarily for educational and analysis functions. 

Oxford University Roman artwork knowledgeable, Revered Professor Martin Henig, branded the episode “totally unforgivable”.

He advised the Telegraph: “This is the worst case that I’ve come across like this because it involves not just selling the odd object, but also destruction.”

An antiquities knowledgeable advised museum officers three years in the past that artefacts from its assortment had been placed on sale on eBay.

One Roman object, valued at £25,000 to £50,000 by sellers, was supplied for simply £40.

An unbiased evaluate of safety has now been launched.

The evaluate shall be led by former museum trustee Sir Nigel Boardman, and Lucy D’Orsi, chief constable of the British Transport Police.

A press release from The British Museum stated: “They will look into the matter and provide recommendations regarding future security arrangements at the Museum. 

“They will also kickstart – and support – a vigorous programme to recover the missing items.” 

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum, stated: “The Trustees of the British Museum were extremely concerned when we learnt earlier this year that items of the collection had been stolen. 

“The Trustees have taken decisive action to deal with the situation, working with the team at the Museum. 

“We called in the police, imposed emergency measures to increase security, set up an independent review into what happened and lessons to learn, and used all the disciplinary powers available to us to deal with the individual we believe to be responsible. 

“Our priority is now threefold: first, to recover the stolen items; second, to find out what, if anything, could have been done to stop this; and third, to do whatever it takes, with investment in security and collection records, to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”