Four rare ancient artifacts are missing after thieves pulled off a daring heist at the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, using explosives to get into the building. The incident looks like a carefully planned operation, which happened early in the morning on Jan. 27. Witnesses called the police and informed about an explosion in the ATM at 3:45 a.m.
Security footage released by authorities showed the moment when the suspects broke open an exterior door, then a powerful blast sent spouts of sparks and smoke into the air. Thieves took gold historical pieces such as gold bracelets dating to around 50 BC and the Geto-Dacian Helmet, an elaborate gold ornament that dates to the 5th century BC. The important item, lent from National History Museum in Romania, was the main piece of the exhibition.


Three solid gold bracelets were also seized, ranking among the most significant treasures of Romania’s ancient history. Lucian Alecu image Contributor
The exhibition had been on display since the middle of summer and demonstrated the wealth and skill of the Dacians, an ancient civilization that covered much of present-day Romania and was conquered by the Romans. It is interesting that the Latin spoken by Roman settlers mixed with the Dacian language, forming the foundation of modern Romanian. The Geto-Dacian Helmet was found 115 years ago in the village of Coțofenești, Romania and most likely belonged to a noble or high-ranking warrior. Its embellishments included some mythological elements, including a pair of sculpted eyes just above the wearer’s own. This design was aimed to terrify enemies in battle and protected its wearer from negative energy and misfortune.
The exhibition was initially scheduled to close on Sunday, but the shocking theft changed everything. The blast damaged the museum, which had to remain closed through the weekend. Luckily, there were no reports of any injuries.
At this stage, Dutch police have received more than 50 tips since the theft, which have been chased up in cooperation with Interpol. A week before the incident, the robbers stole a car in another town in the province of North Holland and changed the vehicle tags. Investigators discovered this car about three miles from the crime scene. The thieves burned the vehicle before switching to another one for fleeing. Now, it is essential to identify and track down the 2nd transport used by the criminals.

Lucian Alecu image Contributor
The museum administration stated that the museum hadn’t experienced such robberies in its 170-year history. He also expressed condolences to his fellow colleagues in Romania, whose prized possession had been stolen. It is a bitter situation considering the fact that bracelets have already been stolen. The solid gold jewelry (24 bracelets) was unearthed in the ancient Dacian capital of Sarmizegetusa Regia between 1999 and 2001. Following their discovery, many of these gold artifacts were illegally excavated and smuggled out of Romania by treasure hunters and criminal groups and ended up on the black market. The Romanian government worked with Interpol and managed to recover 13 pieces.
The search for suspects continues and law enforcement is hopeful that the artifacts will be recovered before they vanish into the black market.
Ancient artifacts are more than just relics of the past; as they connect us to the civilizations that were before us. All the objects carry stories of craftsmanship, culture and the people who once loved them. Sadly, there will always be those who view these irreplaceable items purely as a way to make quick money. The theft of such treasures is not merely a crime against a museum or a nation; it is a loss for all of humanity. By preserving and protecting these artifacts, future generations can continue to learn from and appreciate the deep history they represent.