British-raj era artifacts among 600 items stolen from UK museum
What's the story
A major burglary at a Bristol museum in the United Kingdom has resulted in the theft of over 600 items. The stolen items include artifacts related to India's colonial history. The Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that the incident occurred on September 25 at a facility holding the British Empire and Commonwealth collection of the Bristol Museum. Detective Constable Dan Burgan said, "These items... form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history."
Investigation progress
CCTV footage released, suspects identified
The police have released CCTV footage of four white male suspects involved in the burglary. The collection, which dates back to the late 19th century, includes culturally significant items such as an ivory Buddha and a waist belt buckle believed to belong to an East India Company officer, according to PTI. According to the Bristol Museum, its museum collection includes household items, photographs, papers and personal souvenirs donated by individuals who lived or worked across colonial territories.
Collection significance
Bristol Museum collection aims to shed light on British Empire
The museum states that the collection seeks to provide "insight into the workings of the British Empire and the lives of the people who made it function." It also helps communities "explore difficult, forgotten or hidden histories from their...perspectives." According to the BBC, the burglars took military mementos, jewelry, natural history items, and carved ivory, bronze, and silver figurines from storage. It also stated that the building was targeted twice, with the second raid accounting for 95% of the loss.
Public appeal
Police appeal for public assistance in identifying suspects
The majority of the artefacts were initially housed in the now-defunct British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, which also housed a significant video archive of over 2,000 items. The collection contains video recorded between the 1920s and 1970s, including extensive amateur footage from India and numerous African countries. The Avon and Somerset Police have appealed to the public for help in identifying the suspects.