Thieves hit Greek Museum Dedicated to Ancient Olympic Games – UPDATED

UPDATE: November 24, 2012 – the Associated Press (via the Washington Post) reports that three people are in custody in connection with the theft and that all of the artifacts have been recovered. The alleged thieves were caught after attempting to sell the antiquities for EURO 1 million (approx. $1.3 million).

UPDATE:  AP reports the theft was worse than originally reported.  A total of 77 items stolen. M&H Online reports that last autumn museum staff warned representatives of the Greek government that budget cuts could cause security risks.

Rough several weeks in Greece … and we’re not talking about the debt crisis and related street protests.  Yet another museum has been hit by thieves, this time nearly 70 objects were stolen from the Olympia museum dedicated to the ancient Olympic games.  The situation is so bad the culture minister resigned.  According to a report from Agence France Presse:

Greek Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos resigned on Friday after masked armed robbers stole more than 60 objects of “incalculable” value, including a gold ring, from a museum in ancient Olympia.

Sixty-eight objects were whisked from a museum dedicated to the ancient Olympic Games after two masked men immobilised the museum’s sole female guard as she arrived for her early morning shift, officials said.