‘Priceless’ Egyptian artefacts stolen from Australian museum

CANBERRA – 14 February 2026: Australian authorities said “priceless” Egyptian artefacts were stolen the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture town in Queensland, seeking public assistance.

Police in Queensland said a man forced entry into the museum around 3 a.m., smashing a window before stealing several ancient Egyptian artefacts.

Among the missing items are a rare painted wooden cat figure dating to Egypt’s 26th Dynasty, a 3,300-year-old necklace, and a mummy mask.

Museum officials said additional objects, including funerary figurines known as ushabtis and a ring, were damaged during the incident and cannot be restored.

The total financial impact is estimated to exceed $100,000.

Staff have appealed for the safe return of the artefacts, stressing their cultural and historical value.

An archaeologist familiar with the collection described the pieces as “irreplaceable” and warned they may have been targeted for the illicit antiquities market.