The theft of Egyptian artifacts from a small Qld museum has seen a man face court in South-East Queensland today.
Queensland Police says officers from Moreton North Property Crime Taskforce have charged a 52-year-old man with multiple offences.
He was due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court today (February 16).
The charges follow a break-in and theft at The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology at Caboolture at 3am on Friday (February 13) when a window was smashed to gain entry.
Police say that at 1.30pm on Saturday (February 14), officers searching for a Toyota HiACE camper found the vehicle in the car park of Redland Bay ferry terminal.
A police search discovered all of the Egyptian artefacts except for a wooden cat sculpture.
EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS
Police say the items were recovered intact with only minor damage noted.
The stolen items were identified as a rare painted wooden Egyptian cat figure from the 26th Dynasty, a 3300-year-old necklace and a mummy mask that had been verified by the British Museum.
Other items including a ring and a funerary figurine known as an ushabti were damaged during the break-in; click here to read more.
About 7pm that day, they say, a 52-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on Russell Island and taken to Cleveland.
Police are alleging in court that the defendant was found in possession of the wooden cat sculpture.
The man was charged with enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, and three counts of wilful damage.
He was also charged with trespass and assault over another incident at a Hastings Street, Noosa, property, on Thursday February 12.
Police will tell the court the man was trespassing on the property and assaulted a resident when asked to leave.
The Abbey Museum is perhaps best known for its annual medieval festival in July with jousting and other themed activities.
MORE HISTORY NEWS: Long-lost tomb emerges into the light
