- Indian artefacts are among 600 items that were stolen from a museum in Bristol
- The burglary happened on September 25 between 1 am and 2 am
- The police on Thursday released grainy footage of 4 white male suspects
A number of artefacts from India dating back to the British Colonial era are among more than 600 "high value" items that were stolen during a burglary at a museum in Bristol. According to the Avon and Somerset Police, the items were stolen from the museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection on September 25 between 1 am and 2 am. They released a grainy CCTV footage of four white male suspects seen at the site.
In a statement, the police said, "Detectives investigating a high-value burglary of museum artefacts are appealing for the public's help to identify these people."
The suspects
The police statement descibed the suspects as the following:
Suspect 1: Medium to stocky build, wearing a white cap, black jacket, light-coloured trousers, and black trainers
Suspect 2: Slim build, wearing a grey-hooded jacket, black trousers, and black trainers
Suspect 3: Wearing a green cap, black jacket, light-coloured shorts, and white trainers. He appears to walk with a slight limp in his right leg.
Suspect 4: Large build, wearing a two-toned orange and navy/black puffed jacket, black trousers, and black and white trainers.
'Burglary Is Significant Loss To City'
A report by the news agency PTI said that the items stolen in the robbery included an ivory Buddha and a waist belt buckle belonging to an East India Company officer.
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Detective Constable Dan Burgan of the Avon and Somerset Police said, "The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city."
"These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history, and we are hoping that members of the public can help us to bring those responsible to justice. So far, our enquiries have included significant CCTV enquiries as well as forensic investigations and speaking and liaising with the victims," Burgan said.
It remained unclear why the police issued the aforementioned appeals more than two months after the burglary.
