More than 600 artefacts were stolen from a museum in Bristol, UK, earlier this year in a major robbery, police announced earlier today. The items taken are part of the collection of the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, which is managed by Bristol Archives and Bristol Museums.
According to Avon and Somerset Police, the “high-value” items were removed from the museum’s offsite storage facility in Cumberland Road on 25 September between 1am and 2am. The police are seeking four unknown males caught on surveillance cameras.
According to the BBC, items taken include a carved ivory Buddha and a belt buckle from the East India Company uniform. Military memorabilia, jewellery, natural history pieces and carved ivory, bronze and silver figurines were also stolen.
Philip Walker, the head of culture and creative industries at Bristol City Council, said in a statement: “We're deeply saddened by the theft of these artefacts which make up the extensive British Empire and Commonwealth Collection. These artefacts were part of a collection that documents the links between Britain and countries formerly part of the British Empire from the late 18th century to the late 20th century.”
According to the Bristol Museums website, the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum collection was “created from items that capture the working and domestic lives of British colonial workers, and of the people with whom and amongst whom they lived and worked”. The museum was initially launched in 2002 in Bristol but closed in 2008 due to financial difficulties. A controversy ensued after some objects from the collection were made available on the open market.
