63-year-old man arrested for allegedly stealing cheese worth $400 thousand

A 63-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing over 48,000 pounds of cheese, valued at approximately $400,000.

on October 25 Sky News reported It was stated that more than 22 metric tons of luxury cheddar cheese was stolen from a business in London. The business, Neals Yard Dairy, was allegedly defrauded by a fraudulent buyer posing as a wholesale distributor for a major retailer.

The three types of cheese stolen were Hafod Welsh Organic Cheddar, Westcombe Cheddar and Pitchfork Cheddar. The company said it has won many awards and is among the most sought-after cheeses in the UK.

Just days after the investigation into the theft began, Police detained a 63-year-old man On suspicion of fraud and dealing in stolen goods.

Neals Yard Dairy shared the news on its Instagram page and posted an update on Wednesday, October 30.

“On October 30 we learned that the Metropolitan Police had made an arrest in connection with the theft. “We are grateful for the progress they have made and will continue to support their investigation in any way we can.”

The owner of the farm where Hafod Cheddar is made also spoke about the theft and shared how he believes it is easily done.

“It may seem naive to be the victim of a scam, but the truth is that the world of artisan cheese is a place where trust is deeply ingrained in all transactions,” said Patrick Holden.

“This fraudulent customer’s abuse of trust is a violation of the atmosphere of good faith and respect that Neal’s Yard Dairy has represented in its business dealings for many years. “This is a world where one’s word is the bond.”

While this unpleasant situation is no small heist, it is far from the biggest food theft to occur in 2024. In August, a school cafeteria worker was sentenced to nine years in prison after the incident. stole $1.3 million worth of chicken nuggets from his employer.