Beijing police said on Wednesday that they have in custody the person suspected of stealing several art pieces from the Palace Museum in Beijing's heavily-guarded Forbidden City.

The stolen relics were among items on loan from the Hong Kong-based Liang Yi Museum and were on temporary exhibit at the Palace Museum.

Authorities say two of the missing pieces have been recovered, but both are slightly damaged. Seven items remain missing. The Palace Museum has offered an apology to the Liang Yi Museum.

A spokesman for the Palace Museum said they will adopt new security equipment and tighten relevant measures to ensure the safety of the art pieces, while Chinese police officials have pledged a nationwide crackdown on the theft of cultural relics.