LONDON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Nineteen people were arrested across Britain in an alleged museum artifacts theft ring that targeted heritage sites and auction houses, police say.
Police arrested 17 men and 2 women across England and Northern Ireland. They range in age from 20 to 67 and were taken into custody in predawn raids Tuesday, The Guardian said. Specific criminal charges were not immediately available.
Among the sites targeted for theft included six burglaries over a four-month period at the Durham Museum along with thefts at a Norwich museum, the Fitzwilliam museum at Cambridge and the Gorringes Auction House in Lewes, East Sussex.
Thieves targeted Chinese relics worth 15 million pounds ($23.5 million), many of which are still missing.
"The series of burglaries last year had a profound effect on museums and similar institutions and we are committed to bringing all those who were involved in the conspiracy to justice," Chief Constable Mick Creedon, who led the investigation said. "Many of the stolen Chinese artifacts are still outstanding and a substantial reward remains on offer for information which leads to the safe return of those priceless items."
