Thief sold stolen gems to at least 45 buyers on eBay, British Museum says

A former British Museum curator, Dr. Peter Higgs, is accused of stealing and selling at least 1,800 museum items on eBay, targeting 45 international buyers over a decade.

The museum claims Higgs used false identities and documents to disguise his activities. Although Higgs, who worked at the museum from 1999 until 2023, denies the allegations, the High Court has demanded he reveal details about the sold items and their locations, along with his eBay and PayPal records.

The museum's case includes a cameo fragment listed on eBay by Higgs and later removed, suggesting he altered museum records to cover his tracks. An audit revealed a significant number of items missing from an unregistered collection, and 356 stolen items have been returned to the museum.

In addition, police found ancient coins and editing instructions at Higgs' home, which he attributed to a deceased relative. Justice Williams has ruled in favor of the museum, granting requests for disclosure of information related to the missing items.