Archaeological masterpieces stolen from Drents Museum in Assen

Drents Museum (Netherlands) ^ | January 25, 2025 | news page

[SunkenCiv]

On the night of 24-25 January 2025, several archaeological pieces were stolen from the Drents Museum. These were masterpieces from the exhibition Dacia - Empire of Gold and Silver, including the Coțofenești helmet (c.450 BC) from the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest. Around 03:45 am, police received a report of an explosion. At the scene, it became clear that access had been gained to the property by forcing a door with explosives.

UPDATE 7:49 p.m.: Four objects are missing, in addition to Coțofenești's helmet, three bracelets were taken...

General director of the Drents Museum, Harry Tupan: ‘This is a dark day for the Drents Museum in Assen and the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest. We are intensely shocked by the events last night at the museum. In its 170-year existence, there has never been such a major incident. It also gives us enormous sadness towards our colleagues in Romania. The police are investigating, we are awaiting the outcome of that.'

...The explosion damaged the museum's premises. No one was injured and no one has yet been arrested. The police reckon there are several suspects.

Police are conducting further investigations at the scene today. Among other things, neighbourhood searches are being conducted, forensic investigation is in place and CCTV footage is being requested and reviewed. The police are committed to locating both the suspects and the stolen masterpieces. In doing so, the investigation team has also decided to involve Interpol. That is an international organisation that helps police organisations prevent and fight crime. For more information on the investigation, please visit the police website. Here you can read, among other things, how to contact the police to pass on a tip or share camera images.

[SunkenCiv]

A 3,000 year old torq was found in a bog, reminds me of thse 3,000 year old stolen Dacian ones (not pictured above), but I didn't set the time index, because it's the first segment anyway. The cameo title piece is just the cover. :^)

---

Kevin Whateley travels back thousands of years to partake in a Bronze Age music session, Kate Williams discovers Northern Ireland's most amazing gold find ever and we hear the bizarre and truly amazing story of a jewel from a ship of the Spanish Armada found in the claws of a lobster!

The Mysterious Cameo Found in the Wreckage of the Spanish Armada | 20:46
Our History | 846K subscribers | 33,180 views | January 23, 2025

[Army Air Corps]

For some well-heeled collectors, the appeal is in the having. And, yes, there is a lucrative black market for items stolen from museums.

[SaveFerris]

Woohoo!!

[Texan5]

That is highly unlikely-Museum pieces are worth many times the value of the precious metal and stones in/on them, especially to a bazillionaire collector who can gloat over buying the piece illegally, depriving the common people from enjoying the sight and history of it.