Authorities in London have arrested a 63-year-old man in connection with the cheese heist of 2024, in which tens of thousands of pounds of high-value cheddar were stolen from a major distributor.
London-based retailer and cheesemaker Neal’s Yard Dairy said it learned on Wednesday that a suspect was in custody. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to NPR that a man was detained on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods.
“The man was taken to a south London police station where he was questioned. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries,” a police spokesperson said.
Over the past week, the British artisanal cheese community has been reeling after Neal’s Yard Dairy announced it had been the “victim of a sophisticated fraud resulting in the loss of over £300,000 worth of clothbound Cheddar” — the equivalent of more than $389,000.
“The theft involved a fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer, with the cheese delivered before the discovery of the fraudulent identity,” the company said.
“Between them, these cheeses have won numerous awards and are amongst the most sought-after artisan cheeses in the U.K.,” Neal’s Yard Dairy said. “The high monetary value of these cheeses likely made them a particular target for the thieves.”
The crime cuts deep: Cheddar, which originated in a village by the same name in Somerset, England, is the best-selling cheese in the U.K. and a big source of national pride.