British Museum Director Resigns Amidst Thefts and eBay Scandal

The director of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, reportedly resigned due to a series of alleged thefts from the museum, although there are conflicting reports suggesting his resignation was unrelated. A curator, Peter John Higgs, has been identified as the alleged thief, but he denies any wrongdoing. An independent investigation has been launched, and correspondence dating back to February 2021 suggests that senior management was alerted to the thefts. The stolen objects, including a piece of Roman jewelry, appeared on eBay as early as 2016. The incident raises concerns about museum security and the need for increased scrutiny.