From toilets to cheese, a statue of Paddington Bear to the wellies of comedian Jimmy Cricket, it seems that nearly anything can catch the eye of potential thieves.
In the wake of a gang being convicted for the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, the BBC examines other bizarre crimes occurring in England.
The toilet heist from the Oxfordshire manor in September 2019 involved thieves breaking in and removing the art installation only hours after its glamorous unveiling, but this was not the first instance of lavatories being targeted in the area.
Earlier this year, a dozen portable toilets were stolen from a depot in Banbury. In 2014, several were taken from various sites in Spalding, Lincolnshire, while another incident in 2023 saw a staggering £35,000 worth of toilets taken from a firm in Colwell, Herefordshire.
This trend underscores how even the most ordinary items can become prime targets for criminals.
At the top of Morton’s Solicitors’ list of “10 Craziest Convictions,” released earlier this year, is an unexpected dairy crime from a dairy farm that became an unlikely victim in 2013.
In fact, cheese-related thefts are more prevalent than one might assume. Just last year, over £300,000 worth of cheddar was stolen from a London cheese shop.
Meanwhile, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, a restaurant owner turned amateur detective took it upon himself to investigate a series of burglaries by discreetly placing a tracker in a wheel of Brie. This stolen cheese was eventually traced all the way to Knaresborough on Christmas Eve.
The festive season often attracts thieves looking for easy targets. One peculiar theft occurred in the county involving a tonne of pies worth £25,000, which disappeared from Michelin-starred chef Tommy Bank’s van in Melmerby.
In the weeks leading up to Easter 2023, a remarkable theft of 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs occurred in Telford, Shropshire, and later, a shoplifter managed to swipe nearly 800 of the same treats from 19 stores across Hampshire, Dorset, and West Sussex.
But what could possibly motivate someone to steal a pair of concrete wellies?
As comedian Jimmy Cricket quipped in 2013, after his cherished 50th birthday gift from fellow comedian Ken Dodd was taken from his garden in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, “A hernia.”
Cricket, who humorously wears Wellington boots marked with R and L on the wrong feet for his act, reflected on the public interest the story generated, citing it as a testament to the affection many had for Ken.
Perhaps it was that fondness that made the wellies appealing in the first place.
Given the success of Julia Donaldson’s beloved book, *The Gruffalo*, which has sold over 18 million copies globally since its 1999 release and was adapted into a BBC animation, it’s no surprise that thieves targeted nine statues in a Salford park lately.
But what exactly would one do with a giant wooden Gruffalo or half of a Paddington Bear, for that matter?
Last year, a series of 23 sculptures depicting the Peruvian bear were unveiled across the UK as part of a trail, yet one in the town of Michael Bond, its creator, was damaged recently. Marmalade sandwich tributes were even laid at the site in Newbury, but local businesses have committed to restoring the family favorite, first introduced in 1958.
According to a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, “Opportunistic criminals are always on the lookout for high-value items to steal, regardless of how ‘novel’ they may be.”
Some thefts have bordered on the absurd, such as the gang that tunneled into a secure vault at a Lloyd’s Bank branch on Baker Street, London, in 1971. They mistakenly believed they had executed a successful heist after making off with the contents of hundreds of deposit boxes, not realizing that an amateur radio operator had overheard their entire operation while trying to tune into Radio Luxembourg.
Then there were the notorious Hatton Garden burglars, humorously dubbed “Dad’s Army” due to their age. Experts said their £14 million theft in 2015 was “doomed to fail,” as they were simply too outdated to outsmart modern technology with ANPR cameras tracking their every action.
Other incidents have been brazen. One member of the crew involved in the £4.8 million toilet theft at Blenheim had actually used it just a day before, while visiting the exhibition it was part of. In another shameless act last year in Essex, a burglar was caught on CCTV sipping prosecco and enjoying cake after breaking into a pub.
Despite their eccentricity, none of these crimes are without victims.
“As even seemingly trivial offenses can have significant repercussions for those affected,” noted Morton’s Solicitors.
Cricket, whose real name is James Mulgrew, expressed being “gutted” over the theft of his wellies due to their “sentimental value.”
Similarly, a farmer involved in one of the cheese thefts recounted how the lengthy process of crafting that cheese can take years, highlighting the substantial effort dedicated to raising cows and ensuring top-notch farming practices to produce quality cheese.
Morton’s Solicitors emphasized that like any crime, “even unconventional offenses come with serious repercussions.”
“Whether it’s a diamond necklace or a simple sausage roll, taking something that doesn’t belong to you can lead to legal consequences.”
The post Headline: Bizarre Burglars: A Look at Englands Most Outlandish and Unexpected Crimes first appeared on London.
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Author : London News
Publish date : 2025-03-23 13:58:00
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