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museum in Pekanbaru, Riau, reported on Wednesday that it had lost seven artifacts that date from historic Malay sultanates in a robbery that is suspected to have involved its own officials.

Sang Nila Utama Museum, which is home to thousands of centuries-old artifacts from Islamic sultanates in the province, reported the loss of three Malayan kris, a Malayan sword, a gold-painted plate and a jug. In particular, the kris from Indragiri Hulu regency, which had a handle made of wood and ivory and a blade made of silver, was kept inside a room on the second floor of the museum.

Riau and Riau Islands were home to several Islamic sultanates from the 15th to 19th centuries that depended on trade over the Malacca Strait with other kingdoms in the region.

The items were among 119 artifacts that have not been put on display because of limited space.

Museum head Sri Mekka said that the museum managers were shocked to find the artifacts were missing on March 13, as there were no signs of forced entry into the building.

“We check the collection once in two months. We were shocked to find the artifacts were not in storage during the latest check,” she said.

The lost artifacts were estimated to be worth Rp 54 million (US$4,000).

The museum management in Riau said it suspects that the theft could have involved some of the people who work at the facility.

The case has been reported to the police and so far two museum officials have been questioned.

Even if the thieves were strangers, Sri said it is not hard to break into the museum, which only employs five security guards. Rooms at the museum are equipped with CCTV cameras, but none of them have been functional since 2010.

“We have requested funding for new CCTV cameras from the local administration and it has just been approved for this year,” she said.

Sri said the museum also needs more guards.

Malay Customary Institution (LAM) executive board member Al Azhar lamented the loss of the artifacts.

“Museums have been neglected for years. The buildings have become dilapidated. No funding has been allocated by local administrations. This case is a consequence of such neglect,” he said.

Al Azhar said the artifacts were actually worth more than Rp 54 million if their historical value was taken into account.

The thefts in Riau were the latest of a string of museum robberies in the country.

The National Museum in Jakarta has experienced at least six major robberies since the 1960s.

In the latest theft in 2013, it lost a crouching dragon-shaped golden plaque from 10 BC that had been found in the ruins of a Jalatunda Kingdom royal bath in Mojokerto, East Java, The dragon was still in good condition with a clear shape to its mouth, teeth and tongue.

Another item that was taken was a small round golden box, which also came from the Jalatunda ruins.

The Radya Pustaka Museum in Surakarta and the Senobudoyo Museum in Yogyakarta had also often been the victims of robbery.

Radya Pustaka lost many ancient statues in 2007, while 75 gold artifacts, including Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII’s jewels, were taken from Senobudoyo.