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“A fig of artefacts from India dating backmost to the British assemblage epoch are among much than 600 “high value” items stolen successful a burglary astatine a depository successful Bristol, south-west England,” the constabulary said connected Thursday (December 11, 2025).
The Avon and Somerset Police said the items were stolen from Bristol Museum's British Empire and Commonwealth postulation connected September 25 and released CCTV footage of 4 achromatic antheral suspects successful an entreaty for information.
The historical postulation documents the links betwixt Britain and countries successful the British Empire from the precocious 19th period onwards.
“Detectives investigating a precocious worth burglary of depository artefacts are appealing for the public’s assistance to place these people,” the constabulary unit said successful a statement.
“The gathering housed items from the Bristol Museum’s British Empire and Commonwealth collection. More than 600 artefacts of assorted descriptions were taken by the offenders,” the constabulary said.
Among the items stolen successful the robbery see an ivory Buddha and a waist loop buckle belonging to an East India Company officer. “The theft of galore items which transportation a important taste worth is simply a important nonaccomplishment for the city,” said Detective Constable Dan Burgan of the Avon and Somerset Police.
“These items, galore of which were donations, signifier portion of a postulation that provides penetration into a multi-layered portion of British history, and we are hoping that members of the nationalist tin assistance america to bring those liable to justice.
“So far, our enquiries person included important CCTV enquiries arsenic good arsenic forensic investigations and speaking, liaising with the victims,” helium said.
The serviceman appealed for members of the nationalist to interaction the unit if they recognise anyone from the CCTV footage released this week oregon whitethorn person travel crossed immoderate of the imaginable items being sold online. It remains unclear wherefore the constabulary entreaty is being issued implicit 2 months aft the burglary.
The Bristol Museum website states that its British Empire and Commonwealth postulation is made up of household belongings, souvenirs, photographs and papers of British radical who lived and worked successful the colonies.
It is designed to springiness visitors an penetration into the workings of the British Empire and the lives of the radical who made it function. “We marque these sources disposable to assistance radical and communities worldwide to research difficult, forgotten oregon hidden histories from their ain perspectives.”
“The bulk of the postulation was antecedently held by the erstwhile British Empire & Commonwealth Museum successful Bristol,” the depository states. The postulation includes astir 2,000 items successful its movie section, dating from 1920 to the 1970s, with “strong amateur footage” from India and countries successful Africa.
