Raf Casert And Stephen Mcgrath. This undated image provided by the Drents Museum shows the golden Cotofenesti helmet. Drents Museum via AP. To Romania, the ancient helmet is a priceless cultural heirloom.
It was on display at the small Drents Museum in eastern Netherlands on the last weekend of a 6-month stint when thieves nabbed it. The theft of the helmet and three golden wristbands also on display sent shockwaves through the art world, and devastated Romanian authorities who thought they were loaning the items to a nation where security for museums was paramount. Investigators had found few clues by late Monday beyond a burnt-out car close to the museum, indicating the thieves wanted to cover their tracks.
The helmet's fame and dramatic studded appearance means it could never easily be sold, raising fears the thieves were after the gold itself. The whole world knows it. That would reduce the treasure to a fraction of its cultural and historical value. On grainy security video distributed by police, three people are seen opening a museum door with a big crowbar, after which an explosion is seen.
Then they must have made off with the loot in a matter of minutes. There is nothing else for us to do but sit and wait and see what will happen.
McGrath reported from Bucharest. Aleks Furtula contributed from Arnhem, Netherlands. Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Theft in Netherlands of ancient golden helmet leaves Romania distraught.
