A MEGALODON’s tooth worth £250 was stolen from a Bournemouth museum during an open weekend.

The Carcharodon megalodon tooth was taken from the Bournemouth Natural Science Society in Christchurch Road on Sunday, April 15, sometime between 1pm and 2pm.

The tooth once belonged to an extinct shark that died out around 10million years ago.

A megalodon is around two-and-a-half times the size of a great white and the tooth measures around four-and-a-half to five inches long.

The museum is home to a number of Egyptian artefacts, creatures, fossils and botanical specimens and the theft happened during one of its rare open weekend events.

A number of sharks’ teeth were shown to visitors on the day and these come from East Anglia or Highcliffe, however this particular megalodon tooth is believed to have come from America,

Ray Chapman, curator at the museum, said: “We have a box of knocked about sharks’ teeth but we also show them large teeth.

“It was very busy and the person who was showing them put it down on a shelf and two or three minutes later it was gone.”

“The tooth is worth around £200 to £250, but more to the point is the kids won’t be able to see it anymore.”

Ray, who has been a volunteer at the museum for the past 17 years, said thefts have occurred at the museum before.

Ray said: “It’s annoying. People do take them I’m afraid. I had a large piece of platinum that was taken and we’ve had donation boxes with money. Things do disappear.

“It’s not scientifically important but important in what I can show.”

He added: “It might have been a child. I suspect it was more likely an adult as it’s worth a bit of money.”

The theft was reported to police at 2.08pm on Tuesday, April 17.

Enquiries remain ongoing and no one has been arrested.