Cops arrest gang of 5, foil plan to rob Goa museum

What was probably intended to be a grand Hollywood-style heist was foiled even before it could be embarked upon. A special squad of the Mumbai police recently arrested a five-member gang of robbers in the city. The five were plotting to rob centuries-old antique furniture housed at a well known archeological museum in Old Goa.

Interrogation revealed that they have been stealing antique furniture from locked bungalows in Goa and selling it to dealers in Mumbai for exorbitant amounts for the past two years. Officers said the accused had done a recce of the museum. “They had taken photographs of the furniture pieces which they wanted to steal; the robbery had been planned down to the last detail,” said assistant inspector Nitin Patil.

The museum was established in 1964. Most of the intricately designed antiques placed in its eight galleries belong to the Portuguese era. Experts said that Portuguese furniture, which is mainly made from rosewood, has been in great demand by antique collectors and art lovers.

Sources said the accused hit upon this idea from another gang which has been robbing and supplying antiques to the rest of the country. The five have allegedly been selling antiques for more than 10 years, and have worked with various dealers.
The accused will be handed over to the Goa police for further investigation.