United States: A man was detained after breaking into the Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas, by police officials following an argument with his girlfriend. He caused more than $5 million worth of damage to artefacts and other property.
Security camera footage shows Hernandez, 21, outside the museum’s entrance with a chair at night, as per the reports, and soon after, he is seen on a rampage inside the museum as he went on to smash precious displays, including a sixth-century Greek statue and a pot dating back to 450 BC.
These items together are valued at about $5 million.
Moreover, the police officials mentioned in the statement, “The items inside of the display cases that were destroyed are rare ancient artefacts that are extremely precious and one of a kind.”
One of the most expensive statues, “Kylix Herakles and Nemeon Lion,” is also mentioned as damaged in his long trail of destruction.
The man was later taken into the custody and interrogated when he confessed the actual reason behind the criminal behaviour.
Hernandez added that he “got mad at his girl, so he broke in & started destroying property,” as per the arrest report.
The director of the Dallas Museum of security and operations, Kenneth Benneth, has estimated the total damage to be about $5.2 million, but the value is subject to a final assessment by the insurers.
The museum stated, “While we are devasted by this incident, we are grateful that no one was harmed.”
Currently, he is facing charges of criminal mischief of greater than or equivalent to Rs. 2.3 crore.
This incident took place just four days after a man dressed as a woman in a wheelchair threw a cake over the iconic painting of Leonardo da Vinci at The Louvre, Mona Lisa.
