A number of valuable artifacts were stolen from the Dutch Drenthe museum, which is hosting an exhibition of treasures from ancient Dacia, according to ArtDependence.
Several items were taken, including three gold bracelets and a gold helmet from Coțofenești, dating back to around 450 B.C., which was provided for the exhibition by the National Museum of Romanian History.
In total, the exhibition featured over 600 gold and silver items from at least 15 museums in Romania.
The thieves gained entry to the museum by setting off an explosion that shattered several windows. Despite heightened security at the exhibition, there were no guards present in the hall at the time.
The police are investigating reports of a suspicious vehicle. There is currently no additional information regarding the crime.
It has also been reported that the Dutch police have requested assistance from Interpol.
A delegation from Romania is expected to arrive on Sunday, January 26. The Drenthe museum emphasizes that there have been no incidents like this in its 170-year history.
The stolen artifacts date back to the period of the ancient state of Dacia (modern-day Romania), which was conquered by the Romans in A.D. 106. The items displayed had never been shown internationally at such a scale before.