Fulgencio Cerdan reports the theft of the Treasure of Villena, a major Bronze Age gold collection, during a professional four-minute raid.
Villena, Spain, officials reported that a group of thieves executed a professional, four-minute raid on the Villena Museum to steal the majority of the Treasure of Villena. The heist occurred in the early morning hours, with thieves entering through a window and taking most of the 66 artifacts, which include 29 bracelets, 11 bowls, and three bottles dating back to 1000 BCE. Fulgencio Cerdan, the mayor of Villena, expressed deep devastation over the loss of the heritage, noting that the gold alone is worth approximately $2 million. While the historical value is incalculable, the collection is noted for its unique materials, including meteoritic iron. The operation was described as super-fast and super-professional. Authorities are investigating whether a secondary alarm at a nearby sports center served as a diversion. This theft is part of a recent trend of high-profile museum raids across Europe, following a similar brazen heist at the Louvre in Paris last October.
Sources
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Thieves Steal Bronze Age Treasures in Brazen Spanish Museum Heist
The New York Times
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Bronze age treasure stolen in four-minute Spanish museum heist
The Guardian
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Thieves steal Bronze Age artefacts from Spanish museum in four-minute heist
BBC
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Spanish Heist Sees Bronze Age Gold Stolen in Under Four Minutes
Bloomberg.com
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Ancient Treasure Swiped in Jaw-Dropping 4-Minute Museum Heist
The Daily Beast