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Camden New Journal - by MARK BLUNDEN
Published: 3 May 2007

Thieves grab British Museum exhibits

POLICE are investigating how 10 artefacts were stolen from a Chinese exhibition at the British Museum.
The thefts occurred on the same day, October 30, 2004, despite sophisticated security systems at the museum, in Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury.
Only two out of 13 historic pieces stolen from the museum since 2001 have been recovered by police from the Met’s specialist arts and antiquities squad.
Details of the thefts were released to the New Journal under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Chinese pieces stolen included a pair of gold earrings from the Yuan Dynasty, dating from between 1279 and 1368, a pair of gilt bronze hairpins from the Tang dynasty (618-906), and a gold fingernail guard from the Tang-Yuan Dynasty.
The museum has not revealed how much the items are worth, how they were taken or if the thefts were the work of more than one person.
A museum spokesman said: “In common with major national museums in this country, the British Museum cannot insure its objects, as they are of such high value. The museum’s collections are covered by government indemnity.”
Other stolen artefacts include a late 18th restoration of a Roman marble hand, taken in July, 2002.
The only stolen pieces recovered have been a Greek marble head, from 324BC, and an oak table clock by Benjamin Lewis Vuilliamy. A man was subsequently charged with handling stolen goods following the theft of the clock in October last year.
Police inquiries are continuing into the other thefts.
The museum spokesman said: “The British Museum considers the security of its collection to be one of its highest priorities and takes all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the objects in its care.”

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