Australian police have charged a 52-year-old man after a robbery at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, Queensland, where several priceless ancient Egyptian artefacts were stolen. The man allegedly broke into the museum at around 3am local time on Friday and took items including a rare painted wooden cat figurine from Egypt’s 26th Dynasty, a 3,300-year-old necklace, a mummy mask verified by the British Museum, and other jewellery.
Police recovered most of the artefacts the following day from a car at a ferry terminal south of the museum, with only minor damage. The wooden cat sculpture, believed to be about 2,600 years old, was allegedly found later when the suspect was arrested on Russell Island. The man has been charged with breaking and entering and three counts of wilful damage.
The suspect, identified by local media as Miguel Simon Mungarrieta Monsalve, reportedly told police he believed it was his “duty” to return the artefacts to their “rightful place”. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he claimed the museum should not have the items due to its links to the “Catholic Church”. The police prosecutor stated in court that the defendant had wrapped the artefacts in his country’s flag.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta described the alleged offence as “bizarre” and akin to something from a Simpsons episode, had it not been so serious. Prosecutors alleged the man also caused “irreparable damage” to other objects during the burglary.
The museum’s events and public programmes manager, Joel Stephens, expressed devastation over the theft, noting that the items were part of the museum’s educational programme, which serves over 10,000 school students annually. The museum later said it was “relieved” to have the artefacts back but emphasised that each piece must undergo professional assessment and conservation.
