A 52-year-old man has been charged following a break-in at a Caboolture museum, with ancient Egyptian artifacts recovered in the aftermath. The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology reported that four items were stolen in the early hours of Friday, after a window was smashed to gain entry, including a mummy mask.
Authorities initially suspected organised crime, but quickly determined the theft was relatively amateur. A person of interest and a vehicle were identified promptly, with the vehicle later traced to Redland Bay ferry terminal on Saturday afternoon. Most of the stolen artifacts were recovered there in a condition described as largely undamaged.
The 52-year-old suspect was located on Russell Island around 7pm on Saturday and found in possession of one of the stolen items. He has since been charged with entering premises and committing an indictable offence by break, along with three counts of wilful damage.
Recovered objects include a rare painted wooden Egyptian cat figure from the 26th Dynasty, a 3,300-year-old necklace, and a mummy mask that had been authenticated by the British Museum. A ring and an ushabti funerary figurine were damaged during the break-in, and the pectoral collar associated with the mummy mask was reportedly folded and stuffed inside the mask, causing additional harm.
Museum manager Nina Pye expressed gratitude to Queensland police for their swift action and swift return of the items. Senior curator Michael Strong noted that, given how the artifacts were handled and the tools used to extract them, some damage was anticipated and substantial, ongoing repairs will be required to restore the pieces, especially the delicate pectoral collar.
The case will proceed to Cleveland Magistrates Court on Monday, where the man will face charges related to trespass and the alleged offences against the artifacts.
