(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), where the public has access to a building in order to view the building or part of it, or a collection or part of a collection housed in it, any person who without lawful authority removes from the building or its grounds the whole or part of any article displayed or kept for display to the public in the building or that part of it or in its grounds commits an offence.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), “collection” includes a collection got together for a temporary purpose, but references in this section to a collection do not apply to a collection made or exhibited for the purpose of effecting sales or other commercial dealings.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), it is immaterial for purposes of subsection (1), that the public's access to a building is limited to a particular period or particular occasion.
(4) Where anything removed from a building or its grounds is there otherwise than as forming part of, or being on loan for exhibition with, a collection intended for permanent exhibition to the public, the person removing it does not thereby commit an offence under this section unless he or she removes it on a day when the public has access to the building as mentioned in subsection (1).
(5) A person does not commit an offence under this section if he or she believes that he or she has lawful authority for the removal of the thing in question or that he or she would have it if the person entitled to give it, knew of the removal and the circumstances of it.
(6) A person who commits an offence under this section shall, on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for 5 years.