Man caught reportedly attempting to steal artefact from Petra visitor centre

AMMAN — Police on Sunday were questioning a man who allegedly attempted to rob an artefact belonging to the Nabataean era in the Petra visitors centre over the weekend, according to a senior official.

The suspect, a Jordanian, was allegedly acting suspiciously in front of a glass display at one of the visitor’s halls in the centre on Friday, said Emad Hijazeen, deputy chief commissioner of Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA).

“The halls are secured with surveillance cameras and the artefacts are well guarded in glass displays that are hard to breach,” said Hijazeen, who is also the commissioner for Petra Archaeological Park. 

The official told The Jordan Times that guards were immediately notified, and when they approached the man “he became confused and trembling and then ran away.” 

“The man was chased by the guards and he decided to jump off a six-metre wall, so he ended up with a broken foot,” he explained.

Hijazeen said this is the first time “an attempt has been made by someone to check the strength and security of the display and the area”.

The official said that the targeted display contained pieces of jewellery dating back to the Nabataean era.

“It is too early to speculate if the man wanted to steal from the display but we are certain that it will be difficult for anyone to do so because of the advanced security system that includes surveillance cameras and alarms,” the official asserted.

The suspect was referred to police for further questioning and indictment by the concerned authorities, Hijazeen added.

Public Security Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi was unavailable on Sunday to comment on the incident.

The visitor centre officially opened in October 2014.