Ancient Egyptian Artefacts Stolen in Friday the 13th Museum Heist Near Brisbane
In a daring act that seemed to tempt ancient Egyptian curses on one of the unluckiest days of the year, an alleged thief has been apprehended and charged following a movie-like museum robbery north of Brisbane. The incident occurred at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture during the early hours of Friday, which coincidentally fell on the 13th of the month, adding a layer of superstition to the crime.
Recovery of Priceless Artefacts
Four invaluable ancient Egyptian artefacts, each thousands of years old and holding immense historical and cultural significance, were stolen from the museum. Fortunately, police managed to recover all items by Sunday after tracking down and arresting a 52-year-old man on Russell Island. Detective Inspector David Harbison noted that while initial suspicions pointed to an organised crime group, the theft quickly appeared "actually rather amateurish." He emphasised the rarity of such artefact thefts, stating, "You don’t often see artefacts like this stolen."
Details of the Stolen Items
The stolen collection included a life-size Late Period cartonnage mummy mask, verified by the British Museum, a 19th Dynasty faience and glass necklace over 3300 years old, and an exceptionally fragile pectoral collar adorned with imagery of the falcon god Horus. Police tracked a van to a Redland Bay ferry terminal on Saturday afternoon, where three of the four artefacts were discovered thrown "haphazardly" in the back. The fourth item, a rare painted wooden Egyptian cat figure from the 26th Dynasty, was found in the possession of the arrested man on Russell Island around 7pm on Saturday.
Arrest and Investigation
In bodycam footage released from the arrest, an officer humorously remarked upon finding the last missing artefact, saying, "I think I may have found the artefact. Call me Indiana Jones mate, (the bag) has a mummified cat in it." Harbison revealed that the suspect had been living in his van while travelling down the coast from Noosa, suggesting the theft might have been an opportunistic offence. The man faces multiple charges, including break and enter and wilful damage, and is scheduled to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Monday.
Damage and Recovery Efforts
Senior curator Michael Strong reported that some museum items were damaged "beyond repair" during the break-in. Notably, one of the oldest artefacts, a 5000-year-old ring, was shattered into small pieces and deemed irreparable. Additionally, the delicate pectoral collar, made from organic material, had been folded and stuffed inside the mummy mask, requiring substantial time and expense for restoration. To assist with these costs, a fundraiser has been established to support the museum in covering damages sustained during the incident.
