The University of Bonn in Germany announced last week that numerous fossils and other exhibits have been stolen from its Goldfuß Museum. The university is now appealing to the public for information on items put up for sale or found on display, in order to secure their recovery.
The university said it is not clear when the items were stolen, but that it occured during renovation work, which began in December 2023 and is ongoing. In a blog post published August 7, the university shared images of the missing items, and asked the public for assistance.
“Anyone who has spotted one of the items shown, seen them being offered for sale—e.g. online, on fossil shows, trading platforms or in a store—or noticed anything else that might be relevant is asked to contact the Bonn Police without delay,” the blog post reads, directing the public to send tips to Bonn Police’s Criminal Investigation Division.
The university “strongly advise[d]” people not to contact the sellers on their own, but to pass along detais.
“Besides the damage caused to the museum building and the theoretical market value of individual items, however, the theft also represents a loss of considerable intellectual significance, as every exhibit stolen from the historical collection, which stretches back to the institute’s founder Georg August Goldfuß (1782—1848), can now no longer be used for research or teaching purposes,” the blog post continues.
Per a separate FAQ, the university said that the theft was discovered after certain wooden safety enclosures were due to be dismantled. Workers found the cases broken into and the items, detailed in photos, missing.
The incident is just the latest theft at a major museum in Europe. While last October’s brazen daylight Louvre robbery has captured headlines and public attention, there have numerous robberies since, including an all-night robbery in Italy in late July in which thieves made off with $4.63 million worth of art.
