00:00More than 600 artefacts were stolen from a secure building housing Bristol Museum's
00:10British Empire and Commonwealth collection in a precision raid on September 25th, 2025,
00:16Avon and Somerset Police announced on December 11th. The theft occurred between 1am and 2am,
00:23when four unknown males gained entry to a facility in the Cumberland Road area of Bristol.
00:29The items are described as high-value artefacts with significant cultural and historical importance.
00:35Detective Constable Dan Bergen stated,
00:38The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city.
00:45These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history.
00:53The British Empire and Commonwealth collection contains thousands of historic objects, photographs and films,
01:01documenting links between Britain and countries in the British Empire from the late 19th century to recent times.
01:07Police have not disclosed the specific nature or estimated monetary value of the stolen items,
01:14nor have they provided details on the security measures in place or how the thieves gained access.
01:20The three-month delay between the theft and the public appeal has raised questions about the investigation's progress
01:27and whether initial leads had dried up.
01:29Avon and Somerset Police have released CCTV footage of four suspects believed responsible for the theft
01:37and are appealing to the public for information.
01:41Police have provided detailed descriptions of the four men visible in the footage.
01:46Suspect 1. White male, medium to stocky build, wearing a white cap, black jacket, light-coloured trousers and black trainers.
01:55Suspect 2. White male, slim build, wearing a grey hooded jacket, black trousers and black trainers.
02:02Suspect 3. White male, wearing a green cap, black jacket, light-coloured shorts and white trainers.
02:10He appears to walk with a slight limp in his right leg.
02:13Suspect 4. White male, of large build, wearing a two-toned orange and navy black puff jacket, black trousers and black and white trainers.
02:22Detective Constable Dan Bergen appealed.
02:25If you recognise the men pictured or have seen any of the possible items being sold online,
02:31please call us on 101 and quote, reference, 5225-50269-703.
02:40Police confirmed that forensic investigations are ongoing and detectives have conducted significant CCTV inquiries across Bristol.
02:50The three-month gap between the theft in September and the release of CCTV on December 11 suggests either ongoing investigative efforts
02:59or potential difficulty in identifying the suspects through conventional means.
03:03The Bristol Museum theft comes amid heightened concerns about security at UK museums following major heists at other institutions.
03:12In October 2025, the Louvre Museum in Paris suffered a 102 million jewel heist in which thieves used a truck-mounted cherry-picker to access the Apollo gallery, stealing in just seven minutes.
03:25In comparison, the Bristol theft's three-month delay in appealing to the public suggests either slow investigative progress or uncertainty about how the heist was executed.
03:36The lack of immediate information raises questions about whether the museum's security systems function properly
03:43or whether initial investigation lines proved inconclusive.
03:45Or whether initial investigation lines proved inconclusive.
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