The FBI is investigating the potential sale of a whole lot of things stolen from the British Museum to American patrons, together with some offered on eBay, the BBC reported.
The London museum is likely one of the greatest on this planet. However since final yr it has been the topic of undesirable worldwide consideration after it stated that over a thousand gadgets from its assortment, together with jewellery, gems, and Greek pottery, had been stolen, have been lacking, or had been broken.
The BBC reported that the FBI is now investigating whether or not gadgets from the museum have been offered to patrons within the US.
The FBI’s efforts embody contacting people who purchased gadgets on eBay, together with a person in New Orleans who purchased two gems on the platform, based on the BBC.
The person advised the BBC that the FBI had reached out to him for extra info. He stated he not had the gadgets and advised the BBC he did not suppose the authorities had positioned them but.
The Telegraph reported final yr that some gadgets stolen from the museum have been listed on eBay at low costs. Objects value round $63,000 have been listed for as little as $50, it stated.
In its report, the BBC stated that the FBI had additionally possible assisted in recovering 268 gadgets that have been offered to a Washington DC collector on eBay, which the museum says belong to it.
Objects can also have been offered to folks in different international locations, the BBC reported.
The British Museum did not instantly reply to requests for remark from Enterprise Insider.
The museum has accused considered one of its curators, Peter Higgs, of stealing and damaging artifacts.
Higgs was fired final yr after an inner investigation, however has not been arrested or charged. He denies any involvement.
Three patrons stated that an eBay vendor with the username “sultan1966” used the names “Paul Higgins” or “Paul” once they communicated through e-mail.
The client in New Orleans stated he purchased his gadgets from sultan1966, which the BBC appeared to substantiate by data and receipts.
An antiquities professional reported suspicion {that a} museum workers member was stealing from safe vaults again in 2013, based on The Telegraph, with lacking gadgets starting to show up on eBay three years later.
Sources advised the outlet that the museum had not correctly cataloged all eight million gadgets in its assortment, which made it simpler for the thefts to go undetected.
