British Museum theft

Disappearing museum artefacts - 11th September 2023

Around 2,000 artefacts were stolen from the British Museum leading many to question the effectiveness of museum security systems. A staff member's been fired in relation to the disappearances, and the museum director's resigned for mishandling the situation.

Founded in 1753, the British Museum possesses around 8 million pieces but only around 80 thousand are on display. The rest are in storage, accessible only to staff and occasionally academics doing research.

Archaeologist Dan Hicks blamed the British Museum for not recording their entire collection, which makes uncatalogued pieces difficult to track and recover. The museum also lacked electronic sensors, CCTV at all entrances and swipe cards recording when staff access items. All key security measures which Hicks believes meant this was a "disaster waiting to happen."

Museum officials hadn't realised items were missing until years after their disappearance and might never have discovered the thefts if not for a tip from antiques dealer Ittai Gradel. Gradel warned museum directors that artefacts weren't safe in 2021, but his concerns were dismissed.

Gradel said, "I was entirely at their disposal for any further information or assistance they would require. They never contacted me."

Gradel was taken seriously after sending an email showing 70 pieces belonging to the British Museum bought off eBay.

Gradel expressed little hope for the artefacts' recovery saying "If they can't be identified, how can they return them to the museum?"

While the museum works with police to retrieve the missing items, other countries are pushing for the return of cultural objects which are historically theirs. Association of Greek Archaeology director Despina Koutsoumba said "[the British Museum] have to return the Parthenon Marbles because they are not safe."

Whilst some of the treasures have been recovered, the damage to the museum's reputation remains.