A 63-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the daring theft of more than 22 tonnes of artisanal cheese, valued for its unique craftsmanship and high quality. London’s Metropolitan Police reported the arrest on suspicion of fraud and handling stolen goods, following an investigation into the theft of nearly 950 wheels of cheddar from Neal’s Yard Dairy. Neal’s Yard, a renowned supplier of premium cheese, received the theft report on October 21 after realizing they had unknowingly delivered the cheese to a fraudster posing as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.
The arrested individual was questioned and has been bailed pending further investigation. The stolen cheese includes varieties sourced from prominent cheesemakers across the UK, including Hafod in Wales and Westcombe and Pitchfork in Somerset. Despite the financial hit, Neal’s Yard has paid these cheesemakers to prevent them from bearing the loss directly.
Neal’s Yard is calling on cheesemongers worldwide to be vigilant for any suspect offers involving the stolen cheese, particularly 10kg and 24kg clothbound cheddar wheels with removed tags. Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy and one of the cheesemakers affected, expressed concern over the incident’s impact on both the cheese community and trust in the food supply chain. “It’s a huge, very difficult loss, and we’re all rallying to support Neal’s Yard as much as we can,” Calver stated.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver also commented on the unusual crime, appealing to his 10.5 million followers to be alert for suspicious sales of what he described as “posh cheese.” He noted, “If anyone hears anything about posh cheese going for cheap, it’s probably some wrong’uns.” Oliver, emphasizing the value of high-quality food, called the incident a “real shame” and wondered if the stolen cheese could end up in the commercial fast-food industry.
The incident has sparked conversations about trust in food sourcing. Calver, whose Westcombe Cheddar is aged between 12 and 18 months, noted that the stolen cheese was about 15 months old, remarking, “What worries me is the trust element in things. We need to have more trust in our food supply rather than less.”
The police investigation continues as Neal’s Yard works closely with authorities to track down the perpetrators. Authorities are urging anyone with information about suspicious cheese sales to contact law enforcement or report anonymously via Crimestoppers.
