British Museum Theft: Over 2,000 Artefacts 'Missing' Since '2021 Warnings', Management Accepts Lapses

The British Museum's chairman of trustees, George Osborne, estimated that 2,000 artefacts had vanished, admitting that the collection lacked a comprehensive catalogue.

A general view of the British Museum.

Around 2,000 artefacts have reportedly disappeared from the British Museum, according to George Osborne, Chairman of Trustees, who disclosed the matter on Saturday (August 26). Osborne acknowledged that the collection lacked a complete catalogue, making it challenging to ascertain the exact number of missing pieces. These items, described as "small jewellery, gems, bits of gold" not on public display, have raised concerns about security protocols.

Former UK Chancellor Osborne, speaking on BBC radio, highlighted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the extent of the losses. "I will give you an estimate of around 2,000. But I have to say that’s a very provisional figure," he noted, adding that some stolen items have been recovered recently.

The museum's director, Hartwig Fischer, resigned on Friday, admitting the institution's failure to address warnings of missing items. The museum had terminated a staff member and reported the incident to the police after artefacts were found to be "missing, stolen or damaged."

Despite being one of London's top tourist attractions and home to iconic pieces like the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Marbles, the British Museum grapples with a security lapse. Osborne attributed the lapse to "groupthink," asserting that the management couldn't fathom insider theft.

READ | British Museum Director Resigns Over Stolen Treasures, Cites 'Lapses In Procedures'

"We believe we’ve been the victim of thefts over a long period of time and, frankly, more could have been done to prevent them," Osborne expressed. Museum security has since been tightened.

The antiquarian community collaborates with the museum in the hope of recovering the missing artefacts. While the Metropolitan Police interviewed a man in connection with the alleged thefts, no arrests have been made yet. The police are working closely with the British Museum on the ongoing inquiries.

Fischer, a German art historian, stepped down immediately, citing procedural lapses that permitted the thefts to occur. He acknowledged the British Museum's inadequate response to warnings in 2021 and the subsequent emergence of the issue.

The British Museum, founded in 1753, houses a vast collection of approximately eight million objects. The institution has faced mounting pressure to address disputed items acquired during the British Empire era, such as the famed Parthenon Marbles, which Greece has demanded be returned.