ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Detective Inspector Chambers thanked the museum, Northamptonshire Police, and the public for their continued support, stating that the investigation is ongoing.
On Tuesday, two men aged 43 and 50 from Northampton, UK, were arrested on suspicion of burglary following the theft of Bronze Age gold jewelry from St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, Wales, BBC News reported. The arrests follow an investigation into the break-in and theft that occurred during the early hours of Monday.
South Wales Police responded to the incident at 00:30 local time, arriving within five minutes after an alert from onsite security staff. A police helicopter arrived shortly thereafter, although the thieves managed to evade capture.
Museum officials have described the theft as a "targeted" attack. "At this time, we believe that two suspects forced entry to the main building, where several items, including Bronze Age gold jewelry, have been stolen from a display case," said Detective Inspector Bob Chambers, adding that the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact the police, according to Wales Online Cariad.
Jane Richardson, Chief Executive of the National Museum of Wales, conveyed her deep concern and the emotional impact of the event, noting the thieves “knew exactly where they were going” and targeted specific items. "It's a balancing act for all of us in museum life around access and security," she said.
"It's been very upsetting for us all. We're absolutely devastated," Richardson added. A museum representative echoed these sentiments, expressing sadness over the targeted attack. The museum's Bronze Age collection includes valuable objects such as gold ingots, bracelets, and a crescent-shaped necklace known as a lunula.
Founded in 1948 and situated on the grounds of a 16th-century mansion, the St Fagans National Museum of History is a cornerstone of national heritage and one of Wales's most visited attractions. It is part of the Amgueddfa Cymru, or Museum Wales, and is known for chronicling Welsh life through the ages. The layout includes a reconstruction of historical Welsh buildings, making it a popular open-air museum.
While the value and specific details of the stolen items remain undisclosed, the incident has left a void in the community. The museum emphasized its commitment to working with South Wales Police to recover the cherished artifacts, expressing gratitude for the arrests in the investigation and hoping for the stolen items' safe return. Museum Wales mentioned they were "hugely grateful" to the police and expressed pleasure at hearing of this development in the investigation.
As the investigation continues, South Wales Police urges anyone with information to contact them, potentially leading to the recovery of these invaluable items. Richardson poignantly stated, "They don't belong to the museum and they don't belong to the curators or staff that work there, they belong to the people of Wales."
