The visitors were preparing to (2)_____________ and the staff was packing up and making the final rounds before closing.

Perhaps it was because of this mad rush, not many people were (3)_____________ to their surrounding. And this was also perhaps why the burglars chose this time to strike.

The burglars entered just minutes before closing time. The entrance of the museum was briefly (4)____________ and 2 men and a woman walked in, unnoticed.

They entered the 1st hall where the famous local painting, Mahsuri was displayed. It was not a particularly big painting, but her radiance (5)__________ up the room.

The spotlights (6)__________ the room gave her a life-like sense and the two men pretended to be very absorbed by the painting.

They were talking to each other while referring (7)________ a booklet.

At the end of the hall, the woman dropped her large briefcase onto the floor and (8) ___________ a painting slightly.

That immediately set the alarm system (9)___________.

As the alarm started, (10)_____________, the 2 men quickly grabbed the Mahsuri painting and passed it to the woman. Then they made their gateway.

Sliding the painting into the briefcase, she walked out in hurry and left the hall. Just then, the barrier descended and she (11) ___________!

She knew the guards were coming by now so she ran to another exit door on the side of the museum, and let herself out. The van was waiting by the main gate and (12)___________ she successfully joined her 2 friends who had made their way there earlier.