**Explosive Heist: Priceless Ancient Gold Artifacts Stolen from Dutch Museum**

A shocking overnight heist at the Drents Museum in Assen left authorities in pursuit of stolen treasures with deep historical roots in Romania.

In a daring act of theft, an estimated group of thieves successfully raided the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, early Saturday morning, utilizing explosives to gain access. The museum was showcasing a special exhibition centered around exquisite Romanian jewelry crafted from gold and silver. Among the stolen items were three ornate Dacian spiral bracelets and a prominent artifact, the Helmet of Cotofenesti, believed to be nearly 2,500 years old.

Romania's Ministry of Culture has assured the public that they will deploy all possible avenues to recover the treasured pieces, which were on loan from Bucharest. Museum director Harry Tupan expressed profound shock, labeling this event as the most significant theft in the institution's 170-year history. The alarm was raised shortly after 03:45 local time when nearby residents reported hearing an explosion.

In the wake of the incident, police responded promptly, launching a forensic investigation and scrutinizing CCTV footage in an attempt to piece together the circumstances surrounding the crime. Investigators are also looking into the discovery of a smoldering vehicle on a nearby road, which may provide vital leads regarding the suspects involved. Authorities are inclined to believe that multiple individuals collaborated in executing the heist, and have reached out to Interpol for collaborative aid in the ongoing investigation.

Each of the stolen artifacts, especially the Helmet of Cotofenesti, represents invaluable cultural heritage for Romania, the latter being designated as a national treasure. This isn't the first time Romanian treasures have faced peril; in the late 1990s, 24 similar bracelets went missing and required extensive efforts from the Romanian government to retrieve from international collectors.