After 10 Years, Burglaries Trial Begins for Celtic Gold Heist
After more than a decade of burglaries, a trial is set to begin in Ingolstadt on January 21, 2025. The defendants are accused of a series of sophisticated break-ins, including the theft of the Celtic gold treasure from Manching, worth over €1.5 million.
The trial marks the culmination of an extensive investigation by the Bavarian State Criminal Office's special commission, SOKO 'Oppidum'. The group of defendants, arrested on July 18, 2023, are alleged to have carried out at least 32 burglaries since 2014, with many earlier cases now solved due to their indictment.
Their modus operandi involved disabling internet and telephone services before striking, causing widespread disruption. In the Manching case, they allegedly sabotaged a telecommunications node, affecting over 13,000 households and 14 mobile phone towers. The group used angle grinders to cut open safes and ATMs, making off with a significant portion of the Celtic gold treasure. A numismatic expert confirmed that the seized gold lumps, weighing approximately 500 grams, are part of the stolen Manching hoard.
The trial will determine the fate of the defendants accused of these intricate burglaries. The stolen Celtic gold treasure, considered the largest find of the 20th century, is expected to be a central focus of the proceedings. The outcome will bring closure to many unsolved cases and the communities affected by the defendants' actions.
