Police are appealing for information about a burnt-out car which may have been used in the Dacia gold heist at the Drents Museum in Assen.

The Volkswagen Golf was stolen in Alkmaar on Wednesday night and fitted with number plates (K-813-BK) that were stolen from a car in Witmarsum. Police say they are particularly interested in sightings around the time of both incidents and the days leading up to the heist.

The car was spotted in Groningen on January 23 and was spotted again almost two days later close to the Assen museum. Its burnt-out shell, plus the stolen number plates, were found shortly after the explosion and heist at the museum itself.

The exhibition, Dacia – Realm of Gold and Silver, featured more than 50 gold and silver artifacts from the pre-Roman kingdom and was set to close on Sunday.

At 3.45 on Saturday morning, thieves blasted their way into the museum and made off with several gold objects, including the golden helmet of Cotofenestif, crafted from almost pure gold and dating from 500 BC, and three gold arm bands.

Police released footage showing three men were involved in what appears to have been a meticulously planned operation. According to the Telegraaf, the thieves were in and out within three minutes.

Interpol has since been called in to assist with the investigation.

“If the robbers were after the gold then the chances are that they will melt down the helmet,” art detective Arthur Brand told RTL Nieuws. “Everyone knows this work of art. The helmet is for the Romanians what the Night Watch is for the Dutch. I don’t think it can be sold, No one would want to run the risk of being caught with it,” he said.

Brand said he was confident the perpetrators would be caught soon. “Dutch police are very good at this and if there are three, one of them will inevitably blab. If they are caught with the helmet intact they will be tried for robbery. If they have already melted down the helmet they will also face charges for destroying cultural heritage,” he said.

The police say they have had 50 tips about the heist so far, which are now being investigated.