VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada – Already reeling from the brazen theft of several gold pieces by one of Canada’s best-known modern artists, the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA) is now contending with reports that its security system failed to detect the robbers.
Sometime on the evening of May 23 or early morning on May 24, intruders gained entry into the museum by cutting the window glass on a door. Despite the facility’s use of surveillance cameras and motion detectors, the intrusion was not discovered until a security shift change the morning of May 24.
Fifteen artworks were stolen including 11 gold artifacts fashioned by the late Bill Reid, who is considered one of Canada’s most important artists of the 20th century. The works are said to be worth about $2 million.
Police have yet to comment on the investigation, but MOA officials have described the facility’s security solution as a “Class A system” that was designed by a museum consultant formerly employed by the Smithsonian Institution.
However, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that MOA Director Anthony Shelton said key surveillance cameras went offline without explanation four hours before the theft occurred. Although an alarm was transmitted when the cameras went dark, there was no response by campus security, according to the report.
The CBC also reported the break-in happened when the lone guard at the museum left for a smoke break, and that the thieves entered wearing gas masks and discharged powerful bear repellant spray into the museum’s interior to deter anyone who might try to stop them.
The MOA is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the return of the stolen artworks.
