A 63-year-old man has been arrested in London for stealing a significant amount of high-value cheddar cheese from a major distributor. The man was taken into custody on suspicion of fraud and handling stolen goods and has been released on bail pending further investigation.
The cheese heist involved stealing over 950 wheels of cheddar, totaling more than $389,000 in value, from three different artisan suppliers in England and Wales. This crime has had a significant impact on the British artisanal cheese community, as these cheeses are among the most sought-after in the UK.
Cheddar cheese holds a special place in British culture and is a source of national pride. The stolen cheese came from a small number of real cheddar cheese makers in the world, making it a devastating loss for the industry.
Neal’s Yard Dairy, the retailer affected by the heist, has already paid the artisan cheesemakers in full and is taking steps to ensure the financial stability of the British artisan cheese sector. The company is grateful for the progress made by the authorities in arresting a suspect in connection with the theft.
Cheese lovers can help by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious deals involving clothbound cheddars of certain weights without tags to Neal’s Yard Dairy. The company, along with affected cheesemakers, is relying on the support of the cheese community to recover the stolen cheese and bring the culprits to justice.
The response from supporters and cheese lovers has been overwhelming, with many offering assistance and information to help in the recovery efforts. The theft of these high-value cheeses has brought attention to the importance of safeguarding artisanal cheese production and the need for increased security measures in the industry.
