Police in southwest England say more than 600 culturally significant artifacts tied to the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth were stolen from a Bristol Museum storage site on Sept. 25, according to the Associated Press.
Avon and Somerset Police released images of four suspects and appealed for public help, though officials did not explain why the appeal comes over two months after the theft.
More than 600 artefacts "of significant cultural value" stolen from Bristol Museum's archive https://t.co/Us0fx73wUH
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 11, 2025
Investigators say the stolen items represent a major loss for Bristol, a city whose past is intertwined with the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Detective Constable Dan Burgan said many of the artifacts were donated pieces that help illuminate a complex chapter of British history. Officials hope the public can help identify those responsible.
We want to speak to the people, pictured, after museum artefacts were stolen in Bristol.
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) December 11, 2025
The burglary happened in the Cumberland Road area between 1-2am on Thursday 25 September.
If you can help, call 101 ref 5225269603 or contact Crimestoppers.https://t.co/g1cWBLtfab
Bristol has been at the center of debates over its slave-trade legacy, most notably when protesters toppled a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in 2020.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
