[MSN] Thieves grab British Museum exhibits.

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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."

http://www.thecnj.co.uk/