AN ancient necklace and mummy mask were among the “priceless” artefacts snatched from an Australian museum.
A 52-year-old man has been charged after allegedly smashing a window at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, in Caboolture, Queensland, before making off with the ancient haul.
The treasures included a wooden cat sculpture, believed to be from the 26th dynasty of ancient Egypt, a 3,300-year-old necklace and a mummy mask and collar.
Police said the heist took place in the early hours of Friday morning.
An operation to locate the missing artefacts was immediately launched.
Within 24 hours cops discovered the treasures stashed in a campervan at Redland Bay ferry terminal, around 50 miles from the museum.
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Most of the relics were intact, but some had sustained minor damage, police said.
But there was still one item missing.
The suspect, of no fixed address, was found in possession of the last antique – the wooden cat sculpture.
Cops arrested the man on Russel Island at around 7pm on Saturday evening.
He has since been charged with breaking and entering and three counts of wilful damage.
He is due to appear at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Monday.
It comes after the shocking £76million heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France last October.
Four men remain in custody awaiting trial over the audacious theft, however police believe the masterminds are still at large.
The stolen items, including a brooch containing 2,348 diamonds, and a tiara with 1,083 – all once worn by relatives of Napoleon Bonaparte, have yet to be recovered.
During the chaos, five security guards ran away as responding police arrived too late to see the gang disappear on two scooters.
The thieves were later caught after leaving DNA traces at the scene of the crime.
In January, bombshell footage showed the embarrassing moment guards allowed the robbers to run riot and escape with the £76 million of jewellery.
CCTV video from inside the Gallery was obtained by France Télévisions, showing security officers huddled together in a corner during the shock theft.
Two of the burglars – one wearing a black balaclava and a yellow high-vis jacket, and the other dressed in black with a motorcycle helmet – could be seen forcing their way into the first-floor gallery.
After using high-powered disk cutters to break in through the reinforced window, they begin slicing into display cases.
A group of guards watches them from afar and hesitating to intervene, drawing much ire from the French public.
One staff member is shown making a telephone call, while another grabs the rope stanchion to defend themselves.
Taking a few steps toward the robbers, he appears to change his mind at the last moment before retreating.
Police believe historical art pieces are often stolen to order by dealers who will be unable to sell on the black market.
Instead, the jewellery will be kept hidden, and enjoyed by the master criminal who commissioned the raid.