British Museum robbed of 2,500-year-old statue

Interpol has been alerted after an audacious thief stole a 2,500-year-old Greek statue from the British Museum.

The thief walked into the museum, picked up a 12cm-high marble head and left with it undetected.

Museum chiefs were today reviewing security at the cash-strapped institution in London which has had its funding cut by up to 30 per cent in real terms over the past decade.

The museum admitted that the Greek Archaic Gallery, where the theft took place, had been open to the public but there was no permanent guard on duty. Instead, it was visited regularly by a member of staff patrolling several galleries.

Even then the fact that the head, valued at up to £25,000, was missing was not noticed immediately and it could only be established that it was stolen some time on Tuesday.

Curators and dealers across the world have been alerted to look out for the head which has a distinctive damaged nose and face.