British museum: The curator of the ancient Greek collection stole 1,800 items

Former curator of his ancient Greek collection stole hundreds of antiquities, with a London court condemning him and inviting him to return them. The British Museum reported in August 2023 that hundreds of items in its collection were stolen or their luck was missing, a fact that highlighted its internal organizational failures and led to its “exodus” its director. Peter Higgs, the curator of the ancient Greek collection and acting debts head of the department of Ancient Greece and Rome, was fired after the thefts were revealed. A police investigation has been initiated against him, but he has not been charged. The British Museum filed a lawsuit against him and says he intends to challenge the claim that he was responsible for the thefts. Higgs was not represented in today’s hearing at the London Supreme Court. But the lawyers representing him were present in the criminal part of the case, who refused to comment. The British Museum, in which treasures such as the Parthenon Sculptures or the Rosetta Column are exhibited, says that stolen objects include gold rings, earrings and other jewels dating back to the Roman and ancient Greek periods. His lawyer, Daniel Burgess, reported in court documents: “Although the full extent of the thefts is unknown, it is currently believed that more than 1,800 items were stolen or destroyed and many hundreds of them sold or put for sale” by Higgs. The curator, according to the lawyer, “tried to cover his tracks using, among other things, fake names, forging documents and records kept in the Museum’s IT systems.” So far 356 objects have been returned to the British Museum. Judge Heather Williams issued an order ordering Higgs to return any items he still owns and provide information on where those missing are or what became the proceeds from the sale of the rest.