Police nab 63-year-old man for $370,000 cheese theft in London

Suspect posed as a distributor for a French retailer to steal 22 tonnes of cheddar cheese

Metropolitan Police have arrested a 63-year-old man in connection with the theft of 22 tonnes of cheddar cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy in a suspected large-scale fraud operation.

The cheese, valued at approximately £300,000 approximately $366,000, was allegedly taken by an individual posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.

The product, comprising 950 wheels of cheddar, is believed to have been transported out of the UK, with destinations possibly including Russia or the Middle East.

The arrested man was held on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods, and was taken to a police station in south London for questioning.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the suspect has since been released on bail as the investigation continues.

The theft on October 21 dealt a significant blow to Neal’s Yard Dairy, who had sourced the cheese from Westcombe Dairy in Somerset as well as producers Hafod and Pitchfork.

Despite the financial setback, Neal’s Yard has pledged to cover payments to its suppliers, ensuring they bear no additional costs.

In response to the unusual incident, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver took to Instagram to alert his followers about the theft, urging vigilance in case “lorryloads of posh cheese” are sold “for cheap.”

Oliver described the loss as a “great cheese robbery,” calling the theft of such high-quality cheddar “a real shame.”

Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy, expressed distress at the incident, commending Neal’s Yard for their support and urging the public to continue shopping with the retailer to help them recover from the loss.

Meanwhile, Ben Ticehurst, head cheesemaker at Trethowan Brothers dairy, expressed his bewilderment at the theft, noting the puzzling logistics behind such a large-scale cheese heist.