Arrest Over Burglary At Batley Museum

West Yorkshire Police

A 35 year old man has been arrested in the Rochdale area in connection with a burglary which occurred at Bagshaw Museum at Wilton Park in Batley.

Between 11 March 2005 and 12 March 2005 around £150,000 worth of Egyptian artefacts and a human skull were taken after shutters were broken and a double-glazed window smashed at the premises.

Around £5,000 worth of damage was caused.

Officers searched an address in the Rochdale area, however, the stolen items have not been recovered.

The man arrested has now been bailed pending further enquiries.

Shabti - Click to view a larger image The Shabties are around five inch tall and are decorated with hieroglyphics
The missing Egyptian artefacts called Shabties are often carved from stone and jade. The items were buried with the dead to work as servants in the afterlife and are in various states of decay.

The Shabties which are decorated with hieroglyphics and around five inches tall are valued between £300 and £3,000 pounds each.

Kirklees Police are now again calling to anyone who knows the whereabouts of these items to contact DC Gumersell at Dewsbury CID on 0845 6060606 or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.