More than 600 artefacts described as being “of significant cultural value” have been stolen from the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery’s archive in what police are calling a “high-value” raid.
According to Avon and Somerset Police, four men broke into a building in the Cumberland Basin area of the city in the early hours of September 25. The stolen items belonged to the museum’s British Empire and Commonwealth Collection, a historic archive that provides insight into a complex chapter of British history.
Detectives are now trying to trace four men captured on CCTV in the area at the time of the break-in. “The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city,” said Detective Constable Dan Burgan. “These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history.”
Investigators have conducted extensive CCTV reviews, forensic analysis, and victim interviews in an effort to recover the artefacts and bring the perpetrators to justice. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
By James Kisoo
