Latest news with #NationalHistoryMuseumofRomania
CNN
31-01-2025
- CNN
Dutch police arrest three suspects in connection with museum heist
Dutch police have arrested three people in connection with a museum heist that saw thieves blow open a door with explosives before stealing four priceless ancient artifacts, including an approximately 2,500-year-old gold helmet on loan from Romania. Officials in the Netherlands published the names and photographs of two of the suspects, Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, on Thursday, less than a week after the heist at Drents Museum in Assen, roughly 80 miles northeast of Amsterdam. The third person, a woman, was not named by police. All three suspects hail from the city of Heerhugowaard in the Netherlands, police said, more than 70 miles from the museum. The daring heist occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Dutch police, who received a report of an explosion at 3:45 a.m. local time. Grainy CCTV footage shows suspects opening an exterior door before a blast sends sparks and smoke into the air. Among the stolen items, which have not yet been recovered, are three 2,000-year-old gold bracelets and the Helmet of Cotofenesti, a historically important item on loan from the National History Museum of Romania. Dutch police have described finding the artifacts as their 'absolute priority,' appealing for information from the public. Investigators say they tracked down the suspects after discovering a bag containing clothing in Assen. They also searched properties in Heerhugowaard. Police are appealing for information about a black van, which they say may have been driven by one of the thieves following the heist, as well as various tools used during the break-in — including hammers and a crowbar. Officials have released images of another man, seen at a hardware store in Assen, who is also linked to the heist. The four stolen items were part of an exhibition about the Dacians, an ancient society that occupied much of present-day Romania before being conquered by the Romans. Drents Museum describes the Helmet of Cotofenesti — which was uncovered in a Romanian village almost a century ago — as a 'masterpiece.' Its design features mythological scenes and a pair of golden eyes that were thought to deter enemies during battle, while protecting against the 'evil eye.' Related article Five of the most daring museum heists in modern history Considered a Romanian national treasure, its theft has sparked consternation among Romanian officials and fears that the gold helmet, which weighs around two pounds, would be melted down. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has hailed the artifacts as having 'exceptional cultural and historical importance,' according to the Associated Press, and said their disappearance had 'a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.' Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also said the Romanian government had not authorized the loan and that he will seek damages from the Netherlands if they are not recovered, according to CNN affiliate Antena 3. Romania's Culture Minister Natalia-Elena Intotero said she had dismissed the National History Museum's director, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, over his handling of the crisis, Antena 3 reported. Oberlander-Tarnoveanu had earlier called the heist an incident that 'even in our most pessimistic dreams, we would not have believed possible,' according to the AP. CNN has reached out to Romania's National History Museum and the Drents Museum. Drents Museum has remained closed since the heist but is due to reopen to the public Friday. Its premises were damaged by the explosion, though no injuries were reported. The museum's general director, Harry Tupan, described the incident as a 'dark day' — both for his institution and the National History Museum of Romania. In a statement Wednesday, Drents Museum welcomed the arrests as 'hopeful news.' 'The safe return of the stolen artifacts would be a fantastic next step for all involved. Not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people,' the museum said.
CNN
31-01-2025
- CNN
Dutch police arrest three suspects in connection with museum heist
Dutch police have arrested three people in connection with a museum heist that saw thieves blow open a door with explosives before stealing four priceless ancient artifacts, including an approximately 2,500-year-old gold helmet on loan from Romania. Officials in the Netherlands published the names and photographs of two of the suspects, Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, on Thursday, less than a week after the heist at Drents Museum in Assen, roughly 80 miles northeast of Amsterdam. The third person, a woman, was not named by police. All three suspects hail from the city of Heerhugowaard in the Netherlands, police said, more than 70 miles from the museum. The daring heist occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Dutch police, who received a report of an explosion at 3:45 a.m. local time. Grainy CCTV footage shows suspects opening an exterior door before a blast sends sparks and smoke into the air. Among the stolen items, which have not yet been recovered, are three 2,000-year-old gold bracelets and the Helmet of Cotofenesti, a historically important item on loan from the National History Museum of Romania. Dutch police have described finding the artifacts as their 'absolute priority,' appealing for information from the public. Investigators say they tracked down the suspects after discovering a bag containing clothing in Assen. They also searched properties in Heerhugowaard. Police are appealing for information about a black van, which they say may have been driven by one of the thieves following the heist, as well as various tools used during the break-in — including hammers and a crowbar. Officials have released images of another man, seen at a hardware store in Assen, who is also linked to the heist. The four stolen items were part of an exhibition about the Dacians, an ancient society that occupied much of present-day Romania before being conquered by the Romans. Drents Museum describes the Helmet of Cotofenesti — which was uncovered in a Romanian village almost a century ago — as a 'masterpiece.' Its design features mythological scenes and a pair of golden eyes that were thought to deter enemies during battle, while protecting against the 'evil eye.' Related article Five of the most daring museum heists in modern history Considered a Romanian national treasure, its theft has sparked consternation among Romanian officials and fears that the gold helmet, which weighs around two pounds, would be melted down. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has hailed the artifacts as having 'exceptional cultural and historical importance,' according to the Associated Press, and said their disappearance had 'a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.' Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also said the Romanian government had not authorized the loan and that he will seek damages from the Netherlands if they are not recovered, according to CNN affiliate Antena 3. Romania's Culture Minister Natalia-Elena Intotero said she had dismissed the National History Museum's director, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, over his handling of the crisis, Antena 3 reported. Oberlander-Tarnoveanu had earlier called the heist an incident that 'even in our most pessimistic dreams, we would not have believed possible,' according to the AP. CNN has reached out to Romania's National History Museum and the Drents Museum. Drents Museum has remained closed since the heist but is due to reopen to the public Friday. Its premises were damaged by the explosion, though no injuries were reported. The museum's general director, Harry Tupan, described the incident as a 'dark day' — both for his institution and the National History Museum of Romania. In a statement Wednesday, Drents Museum welcomed the arrests as 'hopeful news.' 'The safe return of the stolen artifacts would be a fantastic next step for all involved. Not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people,' the museum said.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
Dutch police arrest three suspects in connection with museum heist
Dutch police have arrested three people in connection with a museum heist that saw thieves blow open a door with explosives before stealing four priceless ancient artifacts, including an approximately 2,500-year-old gold helmet on loan from Romania. Officials in the Netherlands published the names and photographs of two of the suspects, Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, on Thursday, less than a week after the heist at Drents Museum in Assen, roughly 80 miles northeast of Amsterdam. The third person, a woman, was not named by police. All three suspects hail from the city of Heerhugowaard in the Netherlands, police said, more than 70 miles from the museum. The daring heist occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Dutch police, who received a report of an explosion at 3:45 a.m. local time. Grainy CCTV footage shows suspects opening an exterior door before a blast sends sparks and smoke into the air. Among the stolen items, which have not yet been recovered, are three 2,000-year-old gold bracelets and the Helmet of Cotofenesti, a historically important item on loan from the National History Museum of Romania. Dutch police have described finding the artifacts as their 'absolute priority,' appealing for information from the public. Investigators say they tracked down the suspects after discovering a bag containing clothing in Assen. They also searched properties in Heerhugowaard. Police are appealing for information about a black van, which they say may have been driven by one of the thieves following the heist, as well as various tools used during the break-in — including hammers and a crowbar. Officials have released images of another man, seen at a hardware store in Assen, who is also linked to the heist. The four stolen items were part of an exhibition about the Dacians, an ancient society that occupied much of present-day Romania before being conquered by the Romans. Drents Museum describes the Helmet of Cotofenesti — which was uncovered in a Romanian village almost a century ago — as a 'masterpiece.' Its design features mythological scenes and a pair of golden eyes that were thought to deter enemies during battle, while protecting against the 'evil eye.' Considered a Romanian national treasure, its theft has sparked consternation among Romanian officials and fears that the gold helmet, which weighs around two pounds, would be melted down. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has hailed the artifacts as having 'exceptional cultural and historical importance,' according to the Associated Press, and said their disappearance had 'a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.' Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also said the Romanian government had not authorized the loan and that he will seek damages from the Netherlands if they are not recovered, according to CNN affiliate Antena 3. Romania's Culture Minister Natalia-Elena Intotero said she had dismissed the National History Museum's director, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, over his handling of the crisis, Antena 3 reported. Oberlander-Tarnoveanu had earlier called the heist an incident that 'even in our most pessimistic dreams, we would not have believed possible,' according to the AP. CNN has reached out to Romania's National History Museum and the Drents Museum. Drents Museum has remained closed since the heist but is due to reopen to the public Friday. Its premises were damaged by the explosion, though no injuries were reported. The museum's general director, Harry Tupan, described the incident as a 'dark day' — both for his institution and the National History Museum of Romania. In a statement Wednesday, Drents Museum welcomed the arrests as 'hopeful news.' 'The safe return of the stolen artifacts would be a fantastic next step for all involved. Not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people,' the museum said.
CNN
31-01-2025
- CNN
Dutch police arrest three suspects in connection with museum heist
Dutch police have arrested three people in connection with a museum heist that saw thieves blow open a door with explosives before stealing four priceless ancient artifacts, including an approximately 2,500-year-old gold helmet on loan from Romania. Officials in the Netherlands published the names and photographs of two of the suspects, Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, on Thursday, less than a week after the heist at Drents Museum in Assen, roughly 80 miles northeast of Amsterdam. The third person, a woman, was not named by police. All three suspects hail from the city of Heerhugowaard in the Netherlands, police said, more than 70 miles from the museum. The daring heist occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Dutch police, who received a report of an explosion at 3:45 a.m. local time. Grainy CCTV footage shows suspects opening an exterior door before a blast sends sparks and smoke into the air. Among the stolen items, which have not yet been recovered, are three 2,000-year-old gold bracelets and the Helmet of Cotofenesti, a historically important item on loan from the National History Museum of Romania. Dutch police have described finding the artifacts as their 'absolute priority,' appealing for information from the public. Investigators say they tracked down the suspects after discovering a bag containing clothing in Assen. They also searched properties in Heerhugowaard. Police are appealing for information about a black van, which they say may have been driven by one of the thieves following the heist, as well as various tools used during the break-in — including hammers and a crowbar. Officials have released images of another man, seen at a hardware store in Assen, who is also linked to the heist. The four stolen items were part of an exhibition about the Dacians, an ancient society that occupied much of present-day Romania before being conquered by the Romans. Drents Museum describes the Helmet of Cotofenesti — which was uncovered in a Romanian village almost a century ago — as a 'masterpiece.' Its design features mythological scenes and a pair of golden eyes that were thought to deter enemies during battle, while protecting against the 'evil eye.' Related article Five of the most daring museum heists in modern history Considered a Romanian national treasure, its theft has sparked consternation among Romanian officials and fears that the gold helmet, which weighs around two pounds, would be melted down. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has hailed the artifacts as having 'exceptional cultural and historical importance,' according to the Associated Press, and said their disappearance had 'a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.' Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also said the Romanian government had not authorized the loan and that he will seek damages from the Netherlands if they are not recovered, according to CNN affiliate Antena 3. Romania's Culture Minister Natalia-Elena Intotero said she had dismissed the National History Museum's director, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, over his handling of the crisis, Antena 3 reported. Oberlander-Tarnoveanu had earlier called the heist an incident that 'even in our most pessimistic dreams, we would not have believed possible,' according to the AP. CNN has reached out to Romania's National History Museum and the Drents Museum. Drents Museum has remained closed since the heist but is due to reopen to the public Friday. Its premises were damaged by the explosion, though no injuries were reported. The museum's general director, Harry Tupan, described the incident as a 'dark day' — both for his institution and the National History Museum of Romania. In a statement Wednesday, Drents Museum welcomed the arrests as 'hopeful news.' 'The safe return of the stolen artifacts would be a fantastic next step for all involved. Not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people,' the museum said.
New York Times
30-01-2025
- New York Times
3 Are Arrested in Dutch Museum Heist
Three people have been arrested in connection with a brazen heist at a museum in the Netherlands over the weekend in which thieves stole ancient artifacts, including a prized golden helmet on loan from Romania, the authorities said on Wednesday. The three people were arrested in Heerhugowaard, a city about 30 miles north of Amsterdam and more than 100 miles west of the Drents Museum in Assen, where the theft took place. The police identified two of them as Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, both from Heerhugowaard. The police identified the third person who was arrested as a woman, also from the same city, but did not release her name. The police said that they had searched homes in Heerhugowaard, but that the stolen pieces had not been found. The authorities said they were also looking for a fourth person in connection with the theft. They released three surveillance images of a man wearing glasses and a dark shirt and ball cap that they said were taken at a hardware store in Assen. 'This is an absolute priority of the police and the public prosecutor,' the police said in a statement. Early Saturday morning, thieves blew up a heavy access door to get into the Drents Museum. Grainy footage from a surveillance camera showed three hooded figures tugging at the door before an explosion and a flurry of sparks. The authorities said it was part of an elaborate effort to break into the art and history museum and steal some of its treasures. Among the artifacts that were taken, the authorities said, were three golden bracelets and the helmet of Cotofenesti, an elaborately decorated solid-gold headpiece from the fifth century B.C. The helmet, which weighs a little over two pounds, features large studs across its top and depicts various scenes, including someone sacrificing a lamb. The helmet, which is well known in Romania and is believed to have been used in ceremonies, dates to the time of the ancient Dacians, who inhabited parts of the Balkan region. It was among several golden artifacts that were being shown as part of a traveling exhibition from the National History Museum of Romania. The items had been on display at the Drents Museum since July 2024. The authorities declined to attach a monetary figure to the stolen goods. Romanian officials have said their value to Romania's culture was 'incalculable.' After the heist, Harry Tupan, the director of the Drents Museum, said in a statement that it was a '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,' he said. 'In its 170-year existence, there has never been such a major incident.' Romania's culture minister said the general director of the National History Museum had been fired after he refused to resign, according to reports in the Romanian media. The Dutch police said in their statement that their investigation, camera footage and tips submitted by the public had led to the arrests. They also recovered a bag of clothes in Assen, where the heist took place. The Drents Museum said in a statement on Wednesday that it was 'very pleased with the hopeful news regarding the arrests.' 'The safe return of the stolen artifacts would be a fantastic next step for all involved,' it said. 'Not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people.'
