Reward for tips that lead to stolen Romanian art pieces being found raised to €250,000

The reward for a tip that leads to authorities finding the artworks from Romania that were stolen from the Drents Museums has been raised to 250,000 euros. This was announced on Wednesday by Dutch entrepreneur Alex van Breemen, who lives in the capital Bucharest, and is offering a reward for the recovery of a golden helmet and three golden bracelets.

Van Breemen had initially offered 100,000 euros for any valuable tips. But the businessman said that it is now being raised as it is over two weeks since the historical Romanian art treasures, that the museum was borrowing, were stolen. “They have arrested several suspects, but they are not talking. So, I wanted to bring renewed attention to the case. And maybe there are people who are willing to cross over and give information for this kind of money.”

The entrepreneur said that he is passionate about Romania. “What happened is terrible. These items are irreplaceable, and they need to go back to Romania for future generations.”

The helmet, the top piece, was made around 450 BC, and the bracelets around 50 years before Christ. The pieces were loaned by the National Historical Museum of Romania in Bucharest to the Drents Museum for the exhibition Dacia - Empire of Gold and Silver. Three suspects have been arrested in the case.

The three suspects were remanded into custody on Wednesday. The pre-trial detention of the two male suspects was extended by 90 days, and the detention of the female suspect was extended by 30 days. This was decided by the chamber of the Noord-Nederland court on Wednesday.

The first public hearing in this case is planned for May 9, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) reported. That will be a preparatory hearing. The date of this is not definitive as of yet.