Man Charged After Priceless Egyptian Artefacts Stolen from Australian Museum
Australian police have announced that a man has been charged following the theft of priceless Egyptian artefacts from a museum in Queensland. The 52-year-old suspect is accused of breaking into the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture and stealing several ancient items before fleeing the scene.
Details of the Stolen Artefacts
The stolen items included a wooden cat sculpture believed to be approximately 2,600 years old and originating from the 26th dynasty of ancient Egypt. Additionally, a necklace estimated to be 3,300 years old, a mummy mask, and a collar from a mummy were taken during the incident.
Recovery of the Artefacts
All of the stolen artefacts have now been recovered by police. The break-in occurred at around 3am local time on Friday, which corresponds to 5pm on Thursday UK time. Following an investigation, police discovered most of the items intact with only minor damage after searching a camper van.
The vehicle was located in a car park at the Redland Bay ferry terminal at approximately 1.30pm on Saturday, about 50 miles from the museum. The suspect, who has no fixed address, was allegedly found in possession of the final missing item, the wooden cat sculpture.
Arrest and Charges
The man was arrested on Russell Island around 7pm on Saturday and has been charged with breaking and entering as well as three counts of wilful damage. He is scheduled to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Monday to face these charges.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by museums in protecting valuable historical artefacts from theft and damage. The recovery of the items is a significant success for law enforcement in preserving cultural heritage.
