The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, located near Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia, was the victim of a robbery involving priceless Egyptian artifacts on Friday, February 13. Initial investigations by the Australian police revealed that a man broke a window around 3 AM to gain entry into the museum, which houses a private collection of Egyptian artifacts. After stealing a number of invaluable pieces, he fled the scene. The stolen items have been described as unique and holding significant historical and cultural value. In an effort to recover the artifacts, the police have released photos of the stolen items.

In a statement, the museum appealed to the community for support and solidarity following the burglary. Despite the profound sense of loss, the museum remains committed to transparency, resilience, and the shared cultural value represented by these pieces. Among the stolen artifacts was a rare wooden statue of an Egyptian cat from the 26th Dynasty, a necklace made of porcelain and glass from the 19th Dynasty that is over 3,300 years old, and a life-sized mummy mask made of cartonnage, which has been authenticated by the British Museum. Additionally, a very delicate chest ornament decorated with images of the god Horus in the form of a falcon was taken. Two other artifacts were also damaged during the break-in, one of which was a ring from the New Kingdom that suffered significant damage, making it difficult to repair.

It is noteworthy that the museum welcomes over 10,000 students annually who engage in archaeological excavations and learn about world history through guided tours.