Man Arrested in Connection with Theft of 22 Tonnes of Neal’s Yard Cheese
In a rather unusual case of theft, detectives have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of fraud and handling stolen goods following the report of a massive cheese heist. The incident involved the illicit acquisition of more than 22 tonnes of cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy, a well-respected British artisan cheese retailer and distributor based in London.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson commented on the case: “On Monday, October 21, police received a report of the theft of a large quantity of cheese from a manufacturer based in Southwark.” Following this, the investigative officers detained a man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. He was taken to a south London police station for questioning and has been released on bail as further inquiries continue. The investigation remains underway, with authorities keen on unearthing further details about this bizarre crime.
Neal’s Yard Dairy disclosed that they had delivered over 950 wheels of cheddar to the alleged fraudster, who posed as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer. The realization of the fraud struck only after the cheese had been handed over. Despite this unexpected and significant financial setback, Neal’s Yard Dairy decided to pay the cheese producers, Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork, ensuring they did not bear the financial burden.
In a bid to recover the stolen goods, Neal’s Yard has requested cheesemongers around the world to contact them if they suspect they might have been offered or sold the stolen cheese. The stolen items are particularly identified as clothbound cheddars in 10kg or 24kg formats with the tags removed.
Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy in Somerset, produced some of the stolen cheese and expressed his distress over the theft. “I was really concerned about what it was and the implications of it,” he said. Despite the circumstances, Neal’s Yard Dairy’s efforts have been praised, with Calver affirming, “Neal’s Yard have been fantastic. We are just trying to support them as much as possible by encouraging people to shop with them. It is a huge, very difficult loss.”
The investigation has highlighted the surprising value attributed to artisan foods, a sentiment echoed by many, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Oliver took to social media to warn his followers about potentially encountering “lorryloads of posh cheese” being sold at suspiciously low prices. He characterized the incident as a “great cheese robbery,” lamenting the loss of some of the best cheddar cheese globally.
“If anyone hears anything about posh cheese going for cheap, it’s probably some wrong’uns,” he added. He humorously speculated on the fate of the stolen cheese, questioning whether it would end up “unpeeled from the cloth, and cut, grate, and get rid of it in the fast food industry, in the commercial industry?” Citing the occurrence as “a really weird thing to nick,” Oliver’s remarks shed light on the unusual nature of the theft.
The stolen Westcombe Cheddar, as explained by Calver, is traditionally aged between 12 to 18 months, with this batch being produced 15 months ago. Calver voiced his concerns regarding the broader implications of such incidents on trust in the food supply system, stating, “What worries me is the trust element in things. At the end of the day, what we need to have is more trust in the food supply system, rather than less of it. I hope more people will want to know where their food comes from.”
As the investigation continues, Neal’s Yard Dairy remains committed to collaborating with law enforcement officials to identify the perpetrators and recover the stolen cheese. The case underscores a peculiar and concerning breach of trust within the food industry, urging consumers to stay vigilant and informed about the source of their food products.
