Arrest made in connection to British cheese heist of 48,000 pounds of cheddar

Say food for a mugshot?

An apprehension has been made successful relationship to nan stunning theft of 950 wheels of cheddar that shocked nan British artisanal food community, according to a report.

Police successful London busted a 63-year-old man successful relationship to nan unsavory heist — which saw cheesemonger Neal’s Yard Dairy bamboozled retired of 48,000 pounds of artisanal cheddar worthy much than $389,000.

“The man was taken to a southbound London constabulary position wherever he was questioned. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries,” a constabulary spokesperson said, according to NPR.

Police did not supply immoderate further specifications aliases accusation astir nan man they arrested successful relationship to nan crime that has been dubbed by immoderate arsenic “the grate food robbery.”

London-based mongers Neal’s Yard Dairy announced past month that they were duped into handing complete hundreds of wheels of Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork cheddar to a man who pretended to beryllium a typical for a French retailer.

Ben Ticehurst, caput food shaper astatine Trethowan Brothers dairy, which mislaid complete 26,000 pounds of food to nan theft, expressed his ain perplexity pinch nan act.

“We, for illustration nan remainder of nan world, were near wondering, who wants that overmuch cheese? If you’re not a supermarket, what do you do pinch 22 tonnes of cheese? It’s really puzzling for us, and truthful hopefully nan apprehension will bring answers,” Ticehurst said, according to The Guardian.

Some person floated theories astir nan imaginable plans of nan pilferers.

Patrick Holden, who made nan Hafod Welsh cheddar that was taken arsenic portion of nan cheesy plot, told nan BBC, “I deliberation they’re hoping to waste it successful nan Middle East aliases Russia, that’s my guess.”

“Because group won’t inquire questions there. I deliberation if they tried to waste it person to location they’d find it difficult because nan world artisan organization is very connected,” Holden added to nan outlet.

Neal’s Yard Dairy reimbursed their cheesemakers for their information of nan stolen products — an enactment which was celebrated by nan artisan community.

“I was really concerned astir what it was and nan implications of it. Neal’s Yard person been fantastic,” Tom Calver, head of Westcombe Dairy, said, according to The Guardian. “We are conscionable trying to support them arsenic overmuch arsenic imaginable by encouraging group to shop pinch them. It is simply a huge, very difficult loss.”

Neal’s Yard shared an update past week, saying they were overwhelmed by outreaches of support.

“Since sharing nan news of our theft,” nan mongers wrote successful an Instagram post, “We person received an overwhelming number of calls, messages, and visits. We are genuinely touched that truthful galore group successful nan artisan food organization and beyond are opinionated pinch us. It’s a reminder of why we emotion nan activity we do.”

They continued, “Many of you person asked really you tin help. To that, we say: proceed to support British and Irish cheese…We will beryllium here, championing British and Irish cheese, for a agelong clip to come.”

The organization of artisanal food makers, mongers, and lovers are being asked to support a keen oculus retired for clothbound earthy beverage cheddar that is being sold beneath marketplace value.