For today's #MuseumsUnlocked on "Loot and Restitution" I want to share the story of one of the biggest museum heists in history, which took place on Christmas Eve 1985 when 140 invaluable archaeological artefacts were stolen from Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology.
1/

The theft was a scandal that shook the country. Due to the strong relationship between the precolonial past and the nationalist idea of Mexico, it was seen as a blow to the nation. The authorities send out international notices and mobilised thoroughly to retrieve the pieces.
2/

Almost four years would pass, when, in a very lucky way, almost all of the stolen pieces were recovered undamaged, thanks to hints given by a captured drug trafficker which led to the culprits. They were restored to their exhibition spaces with great nationalistic fanfare.
3/

Despite the initial thoughts that the heist was carried out by professional thieves connected to the illicit antiquities market, the culprits turned out to be two veterinary students, who kept most of the pieces stored in a canvas bag in one of their closets for over a year.
4/

This story was brought to the big screen in 2018 by Alonso Ruizpalacios in Museo ( @museothefilm), starring @GaelGarciaB and @ortizgrisleo.
Due to the pandemic, the film is freely available online (not sure if this is international or just in Mexico) https://moreliafilmfest.com/ficm-presenta-en-linea-museo-alonso-ruizpalacios/
5/

You can read more details about the whole affair in this Washington Post article of the time: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/07/31/robbery-recovery-and-relief/5bd920d6-f3de-440c-90fb-cae3305452a3/ or the entry about the heist in the Museum's webpage (in Spanish): https://www.mna.inah.gob.mx/historia_detalle.php?id=8
6/FIN