RTL: Drents Museum knew about weak spots in display cases prior to art theft

The Drents Museum knew about the weaknesses in the security of the Romanian art treasures that were stolen in January. That concludes RTL News after own research. Documents seen by RTL Nieuws appear to show that the insurer had pointed out to the museum the insufficient burglar resistance of the display cases, in which, among other things, Cotofenesti’s captured helmet was exhibited.

“The burglar resistance of the showcases is too low, given the insured value,” insurer Aon is said to have written to the Drents Museum. “That is why we recommend additional security measures: use showcases with a burglar resistance of at least five minutes.” The museum subsequently invested in additional security, but the display cases were not replaced.

Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, who at the time of the art theft was still director of the National Museum of Romanian History, which had lent the art treasures, tells RTL Nieuws that the Drents Museum had verbally assured that burglar-resistant glass would be used. “The museum and the insurer have not reported anything about doubts about the display cases,” says Oberländer-Târnoveanu, who has since been fired because of the art theft.

According to the former director of the Romanian museum, the Drents Museum had even said that the display cases could withstand mechanical blows for ten minutes without breaking. However, the display case with the masterpiece, Cotofenesti’s helmet, collapsed after two blows with a demolition hammer.

The art theft took place in the Drents Museum in Assen on the night of January 24 to 25. From the exhibition Dacia. Empire of gold and silver the helmet of Cotofenesti and three royal Dacian bracelets were captured. Three suspects were soon arrested and are still in custody. The art treasures have not yet been found; chances are they have merged by now.

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