Audacious £50,000 Burglary Forces Closure of Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum

An investigation is underway in Exeter following a high-profile overnight burglary at the prestigious Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) located on Queen Street. The incident, which occurred during the early hours of Wednesday, September 10, 2025, forced the museum to suspend its operations and close its doors to the public for the day as police secured the scene.

According to reports from Devon and Cornwall Police and Exeter City Council, the thieves managed to force entry into the building. Once inside, they targeted specific showcases containing highly valuable historical artifacts. Among the stolen treasures were a rare flintlock blunderbuss attached to a bayonet and a collection of 17 antique pocket watches. The total value of the stolen items has been estimated at approximately £50,000, representing a significant loss to both the museum and the cultural heritage of Devon.

Devon and Cornwall Police quickly established a cordon and launched a manhunt. Officers are searching for two male suspects who were spotted in the vicinity riding bicycles. Both individuals were dressed entirely in black and are believed to speak with distinct Scouse (Liverpudlian) accents. CCTV images have since been circulated to the public in an effort to trace the suspects.

Councillor Philip Bialyk, Leader of Exeter City Council, expressed deep sadness over the theft: "We take our role as custodians of RAMM's collection very seriously. The gallery has been secured and a thorough review of security is underway. Our hope is that the items, which are of great importance to the people of Exeter and Devon, can be recovered." The museum reopened on Thursday, September 11, with restricted access to the affected gallery while forensic investigations continued. In a subsequent court development, a serial thief linked to the raid managed to dodge immediate prison sentencing, drawing further public attention to the case.