In the reports of local residents who heard unusual noises near Carter’s house on the night of the break-in, a remarkably consistent pattern emerged. First there was a strong gust of wind that made the old shutters rattle – a sound that is nothing unusual in Bermuda. Shortly afterwards came hurried footsteps on the gravel path, followed by the unmistakable click of a door being roughly opened or closed. Moments later, one witness described a dull thud, as if a heavy object had fallen to the floor. Finally, more footsteps were heard, this time faster and more uneven, as if someone was leaving the scene in a hurry. Today, this acoustic sequence is regarded as one of the few tangible traces of this mysterious crime.

Thieves stole several valuable objects from the originally preserved house of Christopher Carter , the first permanent resident of Bermuda. For a full week, the historical pieces were nowhere to be found – until they suddenly turned up in St Peter’s Church. Shortly afterwards, they were returned to their original place.

The images from the crime scene immediately show that something is missing. Visitors who know the museum recognised the loss at a glance.

Christopher Carter himself played a key role in the early settlement history of Bermuda. He was among the survivors of the sinking of the Sea Venture in 1609. While the other castaways later sailed on to Jamestown, Carter remained on the islands until his death – and became one of the first permanent inhabitants of Bermuda.

A legend that still fascinates to this day surrounds Carter: he is said to have secretly recovered the Spanish gold ducat treasure of the Sea Venture and hidden it somewhere in Bermuda. Neither the treasure nor the wreck of the Sea Venture has ever been found.