Three individuals have been arrested in reference to a brazen heist at a museum in the Netherlands over the weekend wherein thieves stole historical artifacts, together with a prized golden helmet on mortgage from Romania, the authorities mentioned on Wednesday.
The three individuals had been arrested in Heerhugowaard, a metropolis about 30 miles north of Amsterdam and greater than 100 miles west of the Drents Museum in Assen, the place the theft occurred. The police identified two of them as Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, each from Heerhugowaard. The police recognized the third one who was arrested as a lady, additionally from the identical metropolis, however didn’t launch her title.
The police mentioned that they’d searched houses in Heerhugowaard, however that the stolen items had not been discovered. The authorities mentioned they had been additionally on the lookout for a fourth particular person in reference to the theft. They launched three surveillance images of a person carrying glasses and a darkish shirt and ball cap that they mentioned had been taken at a ironmongery store in Assen.
“That is an absolute precedence of the police and the general public prosecutor,” the police said in a statement.
Early Saturday morning, thieves blew up a heavy entry door to get into the Drents Museum. Grainy footage from a surveillance camera confirmed three hooded figures tugging on the door earlier than an explosion and a flurry of sparks. The authorities mentioned it was a part of an elaborate effort to interrupt into the artwork and historical past museum and steal a few of its treasures.
Among the many artifacts that had been taken, the authorities mentioned, had been three golden bracelets and the helmet of Cotofenesti, an elaborately adorned solid-gold headpiece from the fifth century B.C. The helmet, which weighs slightly over two kilos, options giant studs throughout its prime and depicts numerous scenes, together with somebody sacrificing a lamb.
The helmet, which is well-known in Romania and is believed to have been utilized in ceremonies, dates to the time of the traditional Dacians, who inhabited elements of the Balkan area. It was amongst a number of golden artifacts that had been being proven as a part of a touring exhibition from the Nationwide Historical past Museum of Romania. The gadgets had been on show on the Drents Museum since July 2024.
The authorities declined to connect a financial determine to the stolen items. Romanian officials have mentioned their worth to Romania’s tradition was “incalculable.”
After the heist, Harry Tupan, the director of the Drents Museum, mentioned in a press release that it was a “a darkish day for the Drents Museum in Assen and the Nationwide Historical past Museum of Romania in Bucharest.”
“We’re intensely shocked by the occasions final evening on the museum,” he mentioned. “In its 170-year existence, there has by no means been such a significant incident.”
Romania’s tradition minister mentioned the final director of the Nationwide Historical past Museum had been fired after he refused to resign, according to reports in the Romanian media.
The Dutch police mentioned of their assertion that their investigation, digital camera footage and ideas submitted by the general public had led to the arrests. In addition they recovered a bag of garments in Assen, the place the heist occurred.
The Drents Museum said in a statement on Wednesday that it was “very happy with the hopeful information concerning the arrests.”
“The secure return of the stolen artifacts can be a unbelievable subsequent step for all concerned,” it mentioned. “Not just for us, however particularly for the Romanian individuals.”
