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Archaeology — Arrest — Bavaria — Criminality — Determination — German Federal States — Germany — Ingolstadt — Manching — Men — Museums — Public Prosecutor's Office — Theft — Turn of the year — Upper Bavaria — veronika grieser

Investigation continues after the theft of Celtic gold treasure

Investigation continues after the theft of Celtic gold treasure

,   and  ASMedia
2 min read
Investigation continues after the theft of Celtic gold treasure
Investigation continues after the theft of Celtic gold treasure

The ongoing investigation into the high-profile gold theft from Upper Bavaria's Manching Celtic Roman Museum continues, despite several suspects being arrested last summer. Veronika Grieser, Senior Public Prosecutor from the Ingolstadt public prosecutor's office, is leading the multi-faceted probe, which includes numerous other burglary cases across Germany.

In July 2023, four men aged between 42 and 50, hailing from Schwerin and Berlin, were apprehended by the Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation on charges of aggravated gang theft. The complex investigation is fueled by a vast number of leads and evidence, as highlighted by Grieser.

Burglary tools discovered near the museum, coupled with DNA evidence, triggered the investigation and linked the suspects to multiple burglaries across Germany and even Austria. Only a portion of the loot, comprising 18 gold lumps, was found on one of the arrested men. However, the whereabouts of the majority of the treasure - an archaeological gold collection unearthed in Manching in 1999 and considered the largest Celtic gold find of the 21st century - remain elusive.

The ongoing trial at the Regional Court in Ingolstadt seeks to bring justice to this significant cultural theft. Bavaria's Minister of Art, Markus Blume (CSU), described the incident as an attack on cultural memory, emphasizing the invaluable contribution of archaeological collections to historical understanding. Researchers hope that the trial will shed light on the circumstances surrounding the theft and potentially uncover the remaining treasure.

  1. The trial for the four men suspected of gold treasure theft commenced in January 2025 and is expected to last until June 2025, totaling 31 trial days.
  2. The arrested men have been in pre-trial detention since their July 2023 arrest and have yet to comment on the allegations.
  3. Although some gold lumps were found during the arrest, the majority of the approximately 3.7-kilogram treasure remains unaccounted for.
  4. The public prosecutor's office charged the men with aggravated gang theft and is investigating about 30 other burglaries in Germany and Austria that are attributed to the accused.
  5. Researchers hope that the trial will provide new insights into the circumstances surrounding this significant theft and potentially help uncover the missing treasure.

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