Chennai: Following the theft of models of Mughal era coins from the facility on Friday night, city police have decided to review the security at the Egmore government museum.
In the complaint lodged with the police, Egmore Museum duty officer had said that two fiber replicas of Mughal era coins were found missing.
There used to be at least 22 police personnel on duty at the museum outpost. Over the years that number has shrunk to seven because all other cops were on ‘other duty’.
“On Friday night two policemen were on duty. One of them had preferred museum duty because of his ill health,” police sources said.
Clippings from the surveillance camera indicated that one of the two thieves who entered the bronze gallery premises was inside the facility just before the employees locked the door and left on Friday evening after handing over the keys to the policemen at the booth.
The man who was inside may have flashed a torch light at night to guide his partner in.
The second man probably entered by climbing a tree behind the building and breaking the glass window while two policemen were standing guard in front with guns.
Source said that at least five employees who were on duty on Friday were facing suspension because of the theft.
Museum official maintained that only two replicas of coins were missing and the intruders had not taken any valuable antiques kept inside.
