The British Museum in London has taken decisive action following the discovery of missing, stolen, or damaged items from its collection earlier this year. The majority of the affected items were small pieces of gold jewelry, gems of semi-precious stones, and glass dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD. These items were primarily kept for academic and research purposes and had not been recently on display.
In response to the incident, the British Museum has launched an independent review into its security protocols. The review will be led by former trustee Sir Nigel Boardman and British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi. The review aims to provide recommendations for future security arrangements at the Museum and support a vigorous program to recover the missing items.
Staff Member Dismissed
The Museum has confirmed that a staff member has been dismissed in connection with the incident. Legal action will be taken against the individual, and the matter is currently under investigation by the Economic Crime Command of the Metropolitan Police.
Recovery Efforts Underway
The Museum is determined to recover the missing items and has already initiated efforts to do so. “It will be a painstaking job, involving internal and external experts, but this is an absolute priority—however long it takes—and we are grateful for the help we have already received,” said Sir Nigel Boardman.
A Commitment to Safeguarding the Collection
British Museum Director Hartwig Fischer expressed his concern over the incident, stating, “This is a highly unusual incident. I know I speak for all colleagues when I say that we take the safeguarding of all the items in our care extremely seriously.” He added that the Museum has already tightened its security arrangements and is working with outside experts to complete a definitive account of what is missing, damaged, and stolen.
George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum, emphasized the Museum’s commitment to addressing the situation and ensuring it does not happen again. “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,” he said.
The British Museum is determined to right the wrongs and use the experience to build a stronger Museum. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding the items in the Museum’s care and ensuring that security protocols are robust and effective. The Museum is committed to recovering the missing items and ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future.
Other Examples from the Past
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston: In 1990, two men dressed as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art valued at around $500 million. The stolen pieces included works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas. The theft remains unsolved, and the museum still has empty frames on display where the stolen artworks once hung. While this case involved external thieves, it highlights the importance of security measures in protecting valuable art collections.
Green Vault, Dresden: In 2019, thieves broke into the Green Vault museum in Dresden, Germany, and stole priceless jewels and artifacts. The stolen items included a diamond-encrusted sword and a pearl necklace. The theft was one of the largest in history, with the stolen items valued at around $1 billion. In this case, the thieves exploited a power outage to disable the museum’s security systems and gain access to the vault.
