Canadian Museum Burglars Used Bear Spray and Gas Masks

VANCOUVER—The thieves who stole $2 million worth of gold artworks from the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia last Friday executed what appears to be a carefully planned operation, reports CBC News in Canada.

The heist took place while the museum's lone security guard was taking a cigarette break, according to museum director Anthony Shelton. And four hours before the theft occurred, several key surveillance cameras went offline without explanation. In addition, the thieves donned gas masks and doused the museum's interior with a powerful bear spray that would have immobilized anyone who tried to stop them, according to CBC News.

The burglars seemed to know exactly what they were after, making off with 12 gold artworks by the late Canadian artist Bill Reid, whose work appears on Canadian currency, as well as several Mexican Zapotec Indian gold-colored necklaces, which were hidden in drawers.

The guard did not report any problems, and the crime was not discovered until the next morning.

Interpol has been called into the investigation. So far, none of the objects have been recovered.