In the end it may have just been too much cheddar to make a clean getaway.
A 63-year-old man has been arrested after more than 24 tons of artisanal cheese from one of Britain’s most famous dairy companies was stolen, authorities said.
The man was detained on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. He was taken to a south London police station, where he was questioned, and has since been released on bail pending further inquiries, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.
The cheese, worth over $390,000, was taken from London cheese specialist Neal’s Yard Dairy on Oct. 21, the company said on Instagram.
In an update to the post's caption Wednesday, the company added: "On 30th October, we learned that the Metropolitan Police made an arrest in connection with the theft. We are grateful for the progress they have made, and we will continue to support their investigation in any way we can."
A fraudulent buyer posing as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer nabbed the 950 wheels of cloth-wrapped artisanal cheddar, the company said. Every wheel of cheese had been delivered before it realized it had been scammed.
Three cheeses from three different suppliers were stolen: Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, Westcombe cheddar and Pitchfork cheddar. Neal's Yard Dairy said that "despite the significant financial blow," it has paid each of its artisan cheesemakers in full for its products.
Tom Calver of Westcombe said in a video on Instagram that "it was a hoax — it was theft, it was fraud." Behind him were rows of empty shelves in the dairy, showcasing how much cheese was taken.
Another cheesemaker, Trethowan Brothers, which supplied the Pitchfork cheddar, said Neal's Yard Dairy “fully (and swiftly) paid” it, despite the theft.
"The way they have handled this horrible situation has only deepened our respect and admiration for them," Trethowan Brothers wrote on Instagram. "We are proud to supply them and call them our friends."
Even British chef Jamie Oliver is spreading the word about the "grate cheese robbery."
Oliver, who is known as "The Naked Chef" on TV, told his 10.5 million Instagram followers to be on the lookout for "lorry loads of very posh cheese."
Oliver said that cheddar is the world’s most consumed cheese type and that a cheddar theft affects exports to 20 countries. He advised cheese enthusiasts 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!" he said.
The whereabouts of the stolen cheese have yet to be determined. Police say the investigation continues.
