[CPProt.net] USA: Indian museum burglarized

[MSN CPPnet]

Friday, June 03, 2005
  
 Indian museum burglarized

An estimated 2,500 artifacts on display at the Wolf Creek Indian Museum in
Bland County were stolen in a break-in that apparently happened early Sunday
morning. 

About half of the museum's collection was taken, Linda Bradshaw, museum
executive director, said Thursday. "We don't know what kind of people would
do this," Bradshaw said. "We're devastated that someone would come in here
and do what they have done." 

The county sheriff's office and state police are investigating. 

The museum is near Bastian, close to where construction on what is now
Interstate 77 uncovered remnants of a prehistoric American Indian village,
which led to the museum's being built. 

Arrowheads, spear points, axes and stone pipes were among the items stolen,
many from the original site. Many of the other items were on loan to the
museum, Bradshaw said. It would be hard to put a monetary value on what was
taken, she said. 

More than a dozen display cases, more than half of those in the museum, were
smashed open. The thief or thieves disconnected the power at the top of the
building and made a hole in a window to get inside. 

An inventory is under way, but Bradshaw said the thieves apparently never
got to the pottery. In fact, the museum is back open, cleaned up and back in
business with school groups and other visitors, she said.