Three Sentenced for Celtic Gold Coin Museum Heist

Three men were convicted and sentenced to up to 11 years in prison for the 2022 theft of 483 ancient Celtic gold coins from the Celtic and Roman Museum in Manching, Bavaria, Germany, while a fourth defendant was acquitted of the museum heist but convicted of other thefts. The heist lasted nine minutes and involved disabling alarms and networks by severing telecommunications cables. The stolen coins, dating back to around 100 B.C. and discovered in a 1999 archaeological dig, are regarded as the largest Celtic gold trove found in the 20th century, but most of the treasure remains missing and some may have been melted down. The group was also linked to about 20 break-ins or attempted robberies in Germany and Austria since 2014, targeting safes and cash machines. The defendants remained silent during their six-month trial, with their lawyers seeking acquittal. The court's sentencing largely matched the prosecution's recommendations, and the case drew significant attention due to the cultural and historical importance of the stolen coins.