abadidea

today in Dutch crime: the news is abuzz with how an ancient Dacian helmet of solid gold, which was stolen from a Dutch museum last year, has been surrendered by the thieves.

Stealing fine art and artifacts is just about the stupidest thing wannabe get-rich-quick crimers do. Literally what is your plan? Who are you selling this to? What do you think is THEIR plan to not immediately be caught owning this unique object whose sole value is in the ability to display it?

It’s common for these things to be quietly un-stolen within a few weeks — literally just brought back to the museum lobby and dumped on a bench. Otherwise, they turn up in a barn or attic somewhere 20 years later, because they were never successfully sold.

congratulations to Solid Gold Dacian Helmet for being able to return to its busy schedule of being admired by the public.

Apr 2 at 12:36pmWeb
Show threadAndrew Zonenberg2d ago

@0xabad1dea The only way it makes sense is if you already (before stealing it) have a buyer lined up who really wants it for themself, understands they'll never be able to show it off, and is willing to pay a high price.

I'm sure these exist but they're rare.

Show threadEmelia/Emi2d ago
@azonenberg @0xabad1dea Or more unfortunately for things made primarily of precious metals, melting it down for a pittance of scrap value, but rendering it essentially untraceable.
Show threadAndrew Zonenberg2d ago
@becomethewaifu @0xabad1dea yeah but there's much easier ways to find gold with less risk in most cases
Show threadwhy not wy2d ago
@0xabad1dea Many stolen fine arts pieces end up in private collections. There is a market. If the stuff is getting returned, it's because those particular thieves were not connected to that market. But it does exist.
Show threadButternuts 🦆2d ago
@0xabad1dea helmet had the time of its life
Show threadLynne2d ago
@0xabad1dea These days gold is valuable enough that it's simpler to melt it down and cast it into some chinsy old-looking gold objects you can sell at weight value.
It's also the safest.
Private collectors who finance such operations are rare and too rich to use even bitcoin.
Show threadJasmine Mangalaseril 🧁2d ago
@0xabad1dea I usually assume it's either a theft of opportunity (they saw a slim window and took it), without critical thinking or it's theft for hire by one of those more dollars than sense types who'd then put it on display in his panic room's third level basement's bathroom.
Show threadTalen Lee2d ago
@0xabad1dea There is a reason we commonly refer to such things as 'priceless'
Show threadGreg2d ago
@0xabad1dea you overlook the obvious - that maybe the thief just wanted to try it on
Show threadTael 🔜 AC262d ago
@0xabad1dea I assume the plan is to melt it down and sell the solid gold as gold. Luckily that didn't happen here.
Show threadTinchocongruent2d ago

@0xabad1dea successful thieves who do these have a plan: get a ransom from an intermediary who will return it. What they get is nowhere near the actual value of the item, but it's enough. This fails when the ransom asked is too high or when the theft becomes public.

There are many unsuccessful thieves in this kind of racket.

Show threadeyajpng2d ago
@0xabad1dea mad respect on this heist, doing it strictly for the love of the game