Thieves steal insect collection worth $100,000 in southern Costa Rica

Thieves reportedly stole a collection of insect specimens in 27 boxes from a German collector in Ciudad Neily, in southern Costa Rica near the Panamanian border.

The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) reported that the theft happened on Dec. 27 and estimated the value of the collection at $100,000. The OIJ did not have the name of the collector nor did they have suspects at press time. Investigators said the pilferers forced open a building next to the collector’s home. The owner described it as a museum for the insect collection.

A University of Costa Rica entomologist, Ricardo Murillo, said he was familiar with the collection, though could not remember the collector’s name. He also estimated the collection was worth $100,000.