Australia police recover trove of ancient Egyptian artefacts stolen during museum heist

Australian constabulary person charged a 52-year-old man aft a robbery astatine a museum successful nan municipality of Caboolture and recovered a cache of stolen ancient Egyptian artefacts.

Investigators claimed that nan man collapsed into nan Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology successful Caboolture, northbound of Brisbane, astatine astir 3am section clip connected Friday and stole respective “priceless” items.

Local media identified nan man arsenic Miguel Simon Mungarrieta Monsalve. He reportedly told nan constabulary that he believed it was his “duty” to return nan artefacts to their “rightful place”.

The stolen items included a uncommon painted woody feline figurine from Egypt’s 26th Dynasty, a 3,300-year-old necklace, a mummy disguise verified by nan British Museum, and different jewellery.

Police said astir of nan artefacts were recovered nan adjacent time successful a car astatine a ferry terminal southbound of nan museum, pinch only insignificant damage.

The remaining woody feline sculpture – believed to beryllium astir 2,600 years aged – was allegedly discovered later erstwhile nan fishy was arrested connected Russell Island, disconnected nan seashore of Queensland, NBC News reported.

The man has now been charged pinch breaking and entering, on pinch 3 counts of wilful damage, according to nan Guardian.

Earlier, nan museum’s events and nationalist programmes manager, Joel Stephens, said nan stolen items were portion of nan museum’s acquisition programme.

“For america it’s devastating and heartbreaking. We person complete 10,000 schoolhouse students each twelvemonth travel done nan museum, prosecute successful some our archaeological digs and besides travel done nan depository and study astir world history.

“These pieces are portion of our signature postulation and [are] really important to that acquisition programme.”

According to nan nationalist broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), nan fishy had told nan constabulary earlier that he did not judge nan depository should person had nan artefacts successful its possession because of nan institution’s links to nan “Catholic Church”.

“The suspect believed it was his work to get nan artefacts and return them to their rightful spot …,” nan constabulary charismatic told nan court. “It’s not nan correct spot to person [them]. In addition, he’s besides sewage nan artefacts wrapped up successful his state flag.” The fishy is primitively from Venezuela and was surviving successful a van.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta was quoted arsenic saying by ABC Mr Monsalve’s "bizarre" alleged offence arsenic akin to "something from a 'Simpsons' episode" had it not been truthful serious.

Prosecutors alleged successful tribunal connected Monday he besides caused “irreparable damage” to different objects during nan burglary.

The depository later said that they were “relieved” to get nan artefacts back. However, it said that “each portion must first acquisition master appraisal and conservation to protect its semipermanent future”.

Earlier, depository head Nina Pye urged nan thief to return nan items, saying: “If they’re damaging them they person nary worth regardless. Bring it backmost wherever it tin use nan organization and acquisition arsenic a whole.”

Mr Monsalve was refused bail.