The "Ely" Museum in Cambridgeshire, UK, has been targeted by thieves who stole golden artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. The museum management reported that a twisted neck ring and two gold bracelets were stolen during a break-in on Tuesday. Ely Museum is shut on Wednesday for police investigations.
According to British Sky News, the museum acquired the twisted gold torc valued at £220,000 in 2017 through grants and public donations, and it was described on the museum's website as "the most valuable piece." The museum curator, Ely Hughes, expressed devastation on the platform "X," stating, "We are devastated; this is a significant blow after the tremendous public support for acquiring the twisted neck ring, which is a piece of cultural significance that cannot be replaced. Our priority now is to work with the police to locate the stolen items."
Cambridgeshire police are searching for two suspects believed to be involved in the theft. Detective Inspector Kerry Mazur commented, "We are focused on identifying the culprits and tracking down the items to return them to their rightful place. We are working closely with the staff at Ely Museum."
The gold neck ring, discovered by a metal detectorist in a plowed field east of Cambridge in 2015, is considered the best archaeological find in England in over a century.
