Three individuals have been arrested in reference to a brazen heist at a museum within the Netherlands over the weekend during which thieves stole historic artifacts, together with a prized golden helmet on mortgage from Romania, the authorities mentioned on Wednesday.
The three individuals have 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 passed off. The police identified two of them as Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, each from Heerhugowaard. The police recognized the third one that was arrested as a girl, additionally from the identical metropolis, however didn’t launch her title.
The police mentioned that that they had searched houses in Heerhugowaard, however that the stolen items had not been discovered. The authorities mentioned they have been additionally in search of a fourth individual in reference to the theft. They launched three surveillance images of a person sporting glasses and a darkish shirt and ball cap that they mentioned have been taken at a ironmongery shop 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 have been taken, the authorities mentioned, have 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 a bit over two kilos, options giant studs throughout its high and depicts varied 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 have 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 serious 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, digicam 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 passed off.
The Drents Museum said in a statement on Wednesday that it was “more than happy with the hopeful information relating to the arrests.”
“The protected return of the stolen artifacts can be a incredible subsequent step for all concerned,” it mentioned. “Not just for us, however particularly for the Romanian individuals.”
