"Grate Cheese Robbery" Case: Police Search for 22 Tons of Stolen Cheddar Worth $390,000

Now this is one un-brie-lievable heist.

Neal's Yard Dairy, an artisanal cheese company based in London, said they have suffered a "significant financial blow" after $390,000 worth of cheddar was stolen by a "fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer."

Calling it "difficult news," the retailer shared in a statement posted on Instagram Oct. 25, "Neal's Yard Dairy has been the victim of a theft resulting in the loss of over 22 tonnes of clothbound Cheddar."

"Over 950 wheels of Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork Cheddar were delivered before the fraud was discovered," they continued. "We are currently working with law enforcement authorities to identify the perpetrators of this fraud."

Neal's Yard Dairy added that those anyone who are "offered or receives cheeses they believe may have been associated with this theft, particularly clothbound Cheddars in a 10kg or 24kg format with the tags detached" should alert the company so police can investigate more into the matter.

Needless to say, the alleged theft—dubbed by the internet as the "Grate Cheese Robbery"—has left a big stink on foodies. In fact, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver believes the missing cheddar will create a "significant gap in the artisanal cheese market."

"Cheddar’s theft affects Neal’s Yard Dairy’s exports to 20 countries," he wrote on Instagram. "Cheese enthusiasts are advised to be wary of suspiciously large quantities of premium Cheddar on the black market. Remember, if the deal seems too gouda to be true, it probably is!"

In an accompanying video, Oliver called the cheddar that was stolen the "best cheese in the world."

"Real shame," he added. "It seems like a really weird thing to nick."

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.