27.03.2017
Bode-Museum
On Monday morning, unknown persons stole a precious coin after breaking in to the Bode-Museum on Berlin’s Museumsinsel.
A member of the security staff of the museum informed the police at about 4 a.m. after discovering the burglary and absence of the coin called the “Big Maple Leaf”, which weighs 100 kilograms and was issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007.
In a statement, Michael Eissenhauer, Director-General of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, announced: “A theft is definitely one of the worst pieces of news for a museum director. We are shocked that the burglars overcame our security systems, which we have successfully used to protect our objects for many years. The perpetrators exercised great force in the break-in and we are glad that nobody was injured. We now hope that the perpetrators will be captured and that the precious coin can be returned unscathed to the Münzkabinett at the Bode-Museum.”
A ladder was found on the railway tracks of the S-Bahn which run along the side of the museum. The S-Bahn traffic was interrupted temporarily. A specialist branch of the Berlin police force is directing the investigation into the burglary. They have yet to confirm whether the found ladder relates to the burglary.
The police are asking members of the public to come forward if they have any information relating to the following questions:
Information can be given to the police department leading the investigation: Kommissariat für Kunstdelikte (directorate for art-related crime) at Tempelhofer Damm 12, 12101 Berlin. Information can be given over the phone: (030) 4664 – 944 400, via email lka444[at]polizei.berlin.de or in person at every local police station.
