Ancient sun god bead stolen

An ancient bead featuring an image of the Hindu sun god Surya Dev has been stolen from the National Discovery Museum Institute, according to police.

The face of Surya Dev on an ancient stone bead

The Surya Dev bead, with a diameter of less than 2cm, had been kept inside a glass box with a magnifying glass on top allowing visitors a close look at the more than 2,000-year-old antiquity.

However, a thief removed the glass, leaving a hole through which he removed the bead, according to investigators.

The museum only wanted visitors to study the bead at close range, although that idea "goes against security practices of museums worldwide", admitted Ronarit Tanakoset, head of the exhibition.

A security camera gave few clues to police, who could not identify any suspects in the dimly lit display room. However, museum staff said one man went into the room without registering his name, said Pol Maj-Gen Witaya.

There were more than 20 people at the exhibition of ancient beads on Thursday, when the Surya Dev bead was stolen. Mr Ronarit said that while the museum had security measures, he had never expected a thief to snatch the bead in such a way.

The Surya Dev bead was among 1,000 ancient beads on show at the museum for an exhibition that opened on Dec 19 last year and will run until June 28.

The bead is made of stone, on which the god face was drawn. There are only 50 Surya Dev beads worldwide and fewer than 10 are in Thailand.

Bancha Pongpanit is the owner of the bead and lent it to the museum.

Mr Bancha said he had a contract with the museum and would act according to the agreement.