Police have arrested a 63-year-old man following the theft of 22 tonnes of cheese that was valued over £300,000.
Neal’s Yard Dairy, a London-based distributor and retailer of British cheese, fell victim to fraudsters who posed as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.
The retailer said that it only discovered the person’s real identity after a total of 950 cheeses were delivered.
Metropolitan Police officers arrested a man on suspicion of fraud and handling stolen goods.
Police arrest 63-year-old after 22 tonnes of cheddar stolen in cheese con (not pictured)
Getty
The 63-year-old was then “taken to a south London police station where he was questioned”.
He has been bailed pending further inquiries, which are ongoing.
The supplier based in Southwark was tricked into delivering 22 tonnes of cheddar, including sought-after varieties such as Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, Westcombe cheddar, and Pitchfork cheddar.
MORE LIKE THIS:
The stolen cheeses retail £7.15 and £12.90 for a 250 to 300g piece.
Despite the significant financial losses, the company has honoured its commitment to small-scale suppliers by paying three artisan cheesemakers in full.
Two days after the theft became public, the company thanked supporters for their messages and visits to its stores.
It said: “We are truly touched that so many people in the artisan cheese community and beyond are standing with us.”
Metropolitan Police officers arrested a man on suspicion of fraud and handling stolen goods
Getty
Top industry officials have applauded the company for their handling of the situtaion.
Patrick Holden, owner of the farm producing Hafod cheddar, said “It might 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.”
Tom Calver, a director of Westcombe Dairy, added: “The process of making that cheese started almost three years ago when we planted seeds for the animals’ feed in the ground.”
Calver also praised Neals Yard Dairy for ensuring payment “even in the darkest of times”.
