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Historic statues and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.

The burglary was noticed on Monday, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to improve protection and surveillance.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, holds the most important archaeological collection in Syria.

It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The institution was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group demolished numerous religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the demolition as a atrocity.

Many cultural items were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.