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.

@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.