Home / Crime and Justice / Art Thief Stole 300+ Works From British Museum
Art Thief Stole 300+ Works From British Museum
2 Mar
Summary
- A former employee stole over 300 prints from study rooms over years.
- Stolen art was identified and sold through art dealers.
- Thefts led to improved security measures like CCTV and bag searches.
A former employee of the British Museum, Nigel Peverett, was responsible for the theft of over 300 prints. Operating for several years until the early 1990s, Peverett accessed works from study rooms, then used razor blades to remove identifying marks before selling them. His operation unraveled in 1992 when he was apprehended attempting to leave the museum with 35 stolen prints. A subsequent search of his home in Kent uncovered 169 more artworks.
Peverett confessed to stealing an additional 150 pieces. The discovery of these large-scale thefts, which had occurred over a considerable period, led to significant concerns about the museum's security. Consequently, the British Museum introduced measures such as CCTV surveillance and mandatory bag searches for visitors and staff. The case highlighted a concerning laxity in the museum's security protocols at the time.
This incident from decades ago was recently overshadowed by a similar, more extensive theft uncovered in 2023. Danish antiques dealer Ittai Gradel identified stolen British Museum artifacts appearing for sale online, including on eBay. This led to the discovery of nearly 2,000 missing or damaged items, linked to former curator Peter John Higgs, who denies the allegations. The museum is pursuing legal action against Higgs.
