On 24 June 2009, a theft occurred from the museum involving the removal of 299 brightly coloured stuffed birds, mostly male trogons and quetzals from Central and South America, as well as birds of paradise from the island of New Guinea, some of which had been collected by Alfred Russel Wallace. The police announced on 12 November 2010 that a 22-year-old US citizen, Edwin Rist, had been arrested, in the Tring area, in connection with the theft and the majority of bird skins had been recovered.
In June 2009, a theft occurred at a museum involving the removal of 299 brightly colored stuffed birds, mostly male trogons and quetzals from Central and South America, as well as birds of paradise from New Guinea. The majority of these birds were collected by Alfred Russel Wallace. In November 2010, Edwin Rist, a 22-year-old US citizen, was arrested in connection with the theft and most of the bird skins were recovered.