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Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Stolen British Museum artifacts
2. FBI investigation British Museum sale
The FBI is currently investigating the sale of potentially stolen artifacts from the British Museum to American buyers. Reports suggest that antique jewelry and gems went missing from the museum and were sold to a collector in Washington D.C. Out of 1,500 stolen or missing items, the museum has so far recovered 626. However, an additional 100 suspected stolen items have yet to be returned, posing a challenge for the museum to prove ownership. The FBI’s investigation focuses on items believed to have been sold to U.S. buyers through online trade channels. Former curator Dr Peter Higgs is accused of stealing and selling artworks, with the museum claiming he stole around £100,000 worth of items.
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1. British Museum stolen artifacts investigation
2. FBI inquiry into British Museum artifact theft
The FBI Investigates Sale of Stolen Artifacts from the British Museum
FBI British Museum – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into the sale of potentially stolen artifacts from the prestigious British Museum to buyers in the United States. This investigation was initiated following reports that antique jewelry and gems had gone missing from the museum and were allegedly sold to a collector in Washington D.C.
According to a recent report by the BBC, the British Museum has managed to recover 626 out of approximately 1,500 stolen or missing items. However, there are still around 100 items that have been located but have not yet been returned to the museum. These unrecorded stolen items pose a significant challenge for the British Museum as they try to establish ownership of these artifacts.
Challenges Faced by the British Museum
Most of the stolen items were never officially documented, making it difficult for the museum to prove their ownership. This lack of records has made it even more challenging for the authorities to trace the transactions of these stolen artifacts, especially those that were sold to U.S. buyers through online platforms.
The investigation being carried out by the FBI is in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police in the UK. One notable case involves a buyer from New Orleans named Tonio Birbiglia, who purchased an amethyst gem and an orange scarab-beetle gem on eBay. The FBI later reached out to Birbiglia regarding these items, which were traced back to a former curator at the British Museum, Dr Peter Higgs, using the online ID “Sultan 1966.”
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Former Curator Accused of Art Theft
Dr Peter Higgs has been accused of stealing, damaging, and selling artworks over the past decade. The British Museum alleges that Higgs stole around £100,000 worth of items, mainly from its storerooms, and sold them to at least 45 buyers on eBay. Despite these serious allegations, Higgs maintains his innocence and is currently defending himself in a civil lawsuit.
As the investigation by the FBI and the Metropolitan Police continues, the British Museum is working tirelessly to recover and secure its stolen artifacts. The collaboration between the law enforcement agencies in the UK and the U.S. highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating art theft and preserving cultural heritage.
