Bristol Museum has been left reeling after more than 600 priceless artefacts were stolen in a daring raid.
Staff are shocked and the city is mourning a cultural loss.
Apparently, with bags, baseball caps, and a well-timed break-in.
The raid hit the museum’s archive in Cumberland Basin early on 25 September.
It targeted items from the former British Empire & Commonwealth Museum collection.
Military badges, carved ivory, bronze and silver figurines, jewellery, and even natural history specimens were taken.
Philip Walker, head of culture at Bristol City Council, described the scene as “devastating.”
He recalled staff discovering boxes spilled on the floor, shelves in disarray, and collections scattered everywhere.
Police have released CCTV images of four men they want to speak to.
Historic Artefacts Stolen
Detectives say the men, all white and wearing jackets and caps, may have made off with most of the items during a second break-in.
Ninety-five percent of the stolen artefacts vanished then.
Detective Constable Dan Burgan highlighted the wider impact.
“These items form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history. A significant loss for the city.”
While the items weren’t on display, they helped document Britain’s links to countries of the former empire from the 18th to 20th centuries.
Police are asking the public to keep an eye out for these treasures online.
After all, you can hide a jewel — but you can’t hide history forever.
