63-year-old man arrested after allegedly stealing $400,000 worth of cheese

A 63-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly stealing more than 48,000 pounds of cheese worth nearly $400,000.

On October 25, Sky News reports this that more than 22 tonnes of luxury cheddar cheese were stolen from a business in London. The company, 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, which the company says has won several awards and is among the most sought-after cheeses in Britain.

Just days after the investigation into the theft began, The police have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of fraud and handling stolen goods.

Neals Yard Dairy shared the news on its Instagram page and released 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 we will continue to support their research in any way we can,” it said.

The owner of the farm where Hafod Cheddar is made also spoke out about the theft, saying he believes the theft happened easily.

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

“The breach of trust by this fraudulent customer is a violation of the spirit of good faith and respect that has personified all of Neal’s Yard Dairy’s business relationships over the years. It is a world where your word is your bond.”

While this cheesy situation wasn’t a minor robbery, it’s far from the biggest food-related theft to happen in 2024. In August, a school cafeteria worker was sentenced to nine years in prison after she stole $1.3 million worth of chicken wings from her employer.