Two rhino horns, a pufferfish skull and a crystal used to cure disease are among the dozens of items taken from London’s most popular museums, it has emerged.
The Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Imperial War Museum, Science Museum and British Museum have all seen exhibits and objects stolen over the past 20 years ranging from the valuable to the bizarre.
Most of the thefts occurred when items had been taken out of their respective museums on loan, but in one brazen case thieves broke in and smashed a glass display case.
At the Natural History Museum, two rhino replica horns were among the objects stolen, along with a pufferfish skull that was taken from a bag on a train as it was being transported to Sheffield University.
Three lottery balls, oil paintings and a Wii remote control were taken from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
And the figures show more than a dozen 18th century ceramic figures were swiped in November 2004 while eight sculptures were taken the following month.
The findings were revealed in a Freedom of Information request submitted by business website London Loves Business.
Oil paintings by artists William Etty and John Linnell were also raided along with a bottle of Paul Smith perfume and Wii remote.
Props including a replica hand grenade and sheepskin jacket were taken from the Imperial War Museum in February 2014.
Other objects taken include a Webley revolver, three prints of British Army photographs of German tanks and small parts of MiG aircraft.
More than 40 objects have been swiped from the Science Museum since 1996 which include a Second World War RAF Airman cap and badge, a 1950s Ford Zephyr saloon car, historic terracotta heads dating back to 200BC and John Dee’s crystal, used for curing disease.
Photographs, fridge magnets and a police whistle withdrawn from use by Cornish Police in 1970 are among the items that have never been recovered.
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Meanwhile a clock made by 18th century clockmaker Benjamin Vulliamy was taken from the British Museum in October 2006 but was recovered within three days.
A spokeswoman from the Met’s Arts and Antiquities Unit told London Loves Business big thefts were “very rare” and added reports of stolen objects are passed on to Interpol as they can end up abroad.
She said: “You treat it as any other crime but with the add on that with cultural property if it turns up five, 10, 15 years down the line there are still going to be an awful lot of people that care about it, which isn’t necessarily the same with a TV.”
A spokesperson for the Science Museum added: “We take the safety and security of our wonderful collections very seriously.
“Our security regulations are under continual review and we work closely with the Metropolitan Police and other partners to respond to and pre-empt any risk of theft.”
