Suspect in Drents Museum heist previously convicted of violent home invasion
Bernhard Z., one of three suspects in custody for stealing golden Romanian cultural artifacts from the Drents Museum on Saturday, was previously convicted of a violent home invasion in Heerhugowaard in which he and his accomplices tied up and threatened two young children. The Noord-Holland court sentenced him to 5.5 years in prison for this crime in 2014, the Telegraaf reported.
On Thursday, the police released the full names and photos of Z. and one of the other two suspects in an attempt to track down the stolen treasures - a remarkable step, given that the suspects are already in custody. Minister David van Weel of Justice and Security told RTL Nieuws that the suspects "chose this themselves." They were given an ultimatum - tell the police where the treasures are, or get your photos published. It is unclear why the third suspect’s information was not made public.
In 2014, Z. and two other men rang the doorbell of a house on De Weider. A 12-year-old girl opened the door and the men forced their way inside. They tied up the girl, her parents, and her 8-year-old brother and threatened them with a firearm. They made off with jewelry and the family car, an Audi A6.
In 2018, Z. was released on parole. A short time later, he threatened the woman who was pregnant with his child with a firearm. When the police arrested him, they found two weapons on him. The Amsterdam court sentenced him to a year in prison for threatening the woman and for weapons possession. He also had to serve the remaining year in prison for the robbery in Heerhugowaard.
After getting out of prison, Z. again came in contact with the law for vandalism and driving under the influence, according to the newspaper.
On Wednesday, Z. and two others were arrested in Heerhugowaard for involvement in the theft of cultural treasures from the Drents Museum. Romanian artifacts - a golden helmet and three golden bracelets - were stolen and are still missing. These items were on loan to the Museum in Assen from the National Historical Museum in Bucharest. Their theft led to outrage in Romania.
The three suspects in the museum heist will be arraigned on Friday, after which the authorities will likely release more information about the investigation.
