British Museum Theft Unveiled
Danish antiquities dealer Dr. Ittai Gradel uncovered a theft from the British Museum by identifying stolen gemstones sold by an eBay user who matched them to museum records. The suspect, Dr. Peter Higgs, a senior curator, allegedly stole and sold these items online while attempting to falsify records to cover his tracks.
In 2020, Danish antiquities dealer Dr. Ittai Gradel started suspecting that an eBay seller, from whom he had been purchasing ancient gemstones, was stealing from the British Museum.
This revelation led to the British Museum announcing that thousands of objects were missing, stolen, or damaged.
The suspected thief, Dr. Peter Higgs, a senior curator at the museum, allegedly stole and sold these items online.
Dr. Gradel’s suspicions arose when he spotted an ancient Priapus cameo, listed by the eBay user 'sultan1966', which matched an item from the British Museum's catalogue.
Extensive investigation revealed that 'sultan1966' was actually Dr. Peter Higgs who attempted to tamper with museum records to cover his tracks.
Despite the museum’s initial inaction, further evidence collected by Dr. Gradel and subsequent internal investigations confirmed the suspected thefts.
Dr. Higgs, who had a reputation for recovering stolen antiquities, was suspended, and remains under investigation as the museum continues to root out the extent of the thefts and recover stolen items.
This revelation led to the British Museum announcing that thousands of objects were missing, stolen, or damaged.
The suspected thief, Dr. Peter Higgs, a senior curator at the museum, allegedly stole and sold these items online.
Dr. Gradel’s suspicions arose when he spotted an ancient Priapus cameo, listed by the eBay user 'sultan1966', which matched an item from the British Museum's catalogue.
Extensive investigation revealed that 'sultan1966' was actually Dr. Peter Higgs who attempted to tamper with museum records to cover his tracks.
Despite the museum’s initial inaction, further evidence collected by Dr. Gradel and subsequent internal investigations confirmed the suspected thefts.
Dr. Higgs, who had a reputation for recovering stolen antiquities, was suspended, and remains under investigation as the museum continues to root out the extent of the thefts and recover stolen items.