[MSN] Museum of Antigua & Barbuda robbed of historical data.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Museum robbed of historical data 
 
Tuesday June 12 2007
 
by Afeefah Beharry


Bandits made off with tons of historical and research material which were
stored on jump drives when they broke into the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda
sometime between Sunday evening and early yesterday morning.

The burglars also reportedly stole a number of items from the Museum gift
shop.

Executive Director of the Historical Society Michele Henry told the Antigua
Sun it appeared as though the bandits broke into the building between 10
p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. yesterday. 

She said the staff noticed the break in about 7:30 a.m. when they turned up
for duties.

"This is a heavy blow to the society and the people of Antigua & Barbuda,"
she said.

She said the thieves broke the windows to gain entry to the building and
damaged three artefact doors which would be very costly to repair as the
materials are not available today.

The bandits reportedly took five jump drives, miniaturised electronic
storage devices, containing important research project material which Henry
said she was working on to submit to a regional agency for funding.

Besides that, Henry said that they made off with over $1,000 worth in
reproduction of historical postcards. Maps of Antigua & Barbuda and handmade
jewellery were also stolen. 

"It appears as though these people are petty thieves," Henry said.

She told this newspaper that she was in the process of reviewing the
security system of the museum with a team from the Public Works Department.

Henry added that the museum, one of the oldest non-profit organisations on
the island, does not have funding to employ security guards.

She said this was the first time something of that magnitude has happened to
the museum and she is appealing to individuals who are being approached to
purchase used jump drives to report it to the police who are investigating
the matter.

http://www.antiguasun.com/