Authorities in Germany announced the apprehension of four individuals suspected of involvement in the theft of a significant collection of ancient gold coins from a Bavarian museum in 2023. The stolen artifacts comprise 483 Celtic coins, dating back to approximately 100 B.C., unearthed during an archaeological excavation in 1999 near the Celtic and Roman Museum in Manching, the location of the heist.
The theft, which occurred in the early hours of November 22nd, was executed swiftly, with the perpetrators entering and exiting the museum within a mere nine minutes. Prior to the robbery, telecommunication lines were severed at a local hub, disrupting network connectivity and potentially hindering communication and security systems. The precision and speed of the operation suggest a well-planned and coordinated effort.
The arrests were made on Tuesday following raids conducted in the Schwerin region of northeastern Germany. Bavarian authorities celebrated the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the investigation, attributing the success to diligent investigative work. While details about the suspects and the recovered artifacts remain limited, the arrests mark a positive development in the effort to retrieve the stolen historical treasures.
