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Historic statues and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The burglary was noticed on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.

The multiple missing pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to improve security and observation methods.

The director of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that security forces were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He noted that guards at the facility and additional people were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the most important historical artifacts in Syria.

It contains historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The museum was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.

It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after opposition groups deposed the Assad regime.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple religious structures and additional edifices at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also lost or stolen from historical locations and collections.