Heist at Drents Museum: Romanian Artifacts Stolen

Thieves executed a dramatic heist at the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, using explosives to steal four invaluable gold artifacts, including the 2,500-year-old Cotofenesti helmet and three golden Dacian bracelets. These items were part of the 'Dacia - Empire of Gold and Silver' exhibition from Romania's National History Museum. The helmet, a masterpiece of Thracian-Getic art, features intricate mythological designs and is considered a national treasure by Romania. The robbery, which occurred early Saturday morning, involved a burning vehicle found nearby, suggesting a planned getaway. Dutch police are collaborating with Interpol to recover the artifacts and have increased security measures in the area. This incident marks the first major theft in the museum's 170-year history, causing significant distress to both the Dutch and Romanian institutions involved.