Daily Mirror - Print Edition

‘Cameras disabled before Museum heist’

18 Mar 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

Minister of National Heritage Jagath Balasuriya said that at the time of the theft at the National Museum on Friday night, the CCTV Cameras at the Museum were not functioning.

Minister Balasuriya also hinted that investigations will have to be carried out to determine if there was any one was present inside the building at the time of the theft “No one remains in the museum during the night as the authorities shut it and hand over the keys to the police,” he said stressing the need for taking all these facts into consideration when carrying out investigations.

Meanwhile the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded 20 statements mainly from employees of the National Museum in Colombo over the theft.

Following the theft the CID took over the investigations from the Cinnamon Garden police and the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

The group of thieves had stolen a number of traditional swords and coins that were placed in the museum. Thus far seven swords, 18 rings, 4 handles and coins worth millions are found to have been stolen. (By Yohan Perera and Supun Dias)