British tourist detained for removing mosaic tiles in Pompeii
The 20-year-old woman is reported to have been with her father and sister when she was seen lifting tiles at the House of Anchor.
Monday 8 April 2019 17:09, UK
A British woman has been detained for removing tiles from a mosaic in Pompeii, Italian police have said.
The 20-year-old tourist was caught lifting pieces from a floor mosaic in the archaeological site House of Anchor.
She is reported to have been with her father and sister at the time.
The site's manager said the incident caused an estimated €3,000 (£2,600) worth of damage.
The woman was cited for aggravated damage after she crossed a guard rail around the mosaic to take the tiles, police said.
Pompeii is an ancient Roman city near modern Naples that was buried under four to six metres of volcanic ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
The excavated city, which was largely preserved under the ash, remains a popular tourist attraction to this day as a detailed insight into the everyday lives of its inhabitants.
Because of this, Pompeii has long suffered with tourists pocketing relics as holiday souvenirs.
Last year, a French tourist was fined and given a suspended prison sentence after trying to leave Pompeii with a backpack full of ancient artefacts, The Local Italy reported.
In 2016, an American tourist was reported to have taken a piece of marble off the floor of the House of the Small Fountain.