Gold Toilet stolen from English Palace

February 28, 2025

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A valuable toilet made of 18-carat gold was stolen from Blenheim Palace, England, in a daring burglary on September 14, 2019.

The toilet, an artwork named America by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was worth over NZ$10.6 million and had been on display for visitors to use. Prosecutors believe the thieves took less than five minutes to remove it, causing water damage to the historic site.

During a trial at Oxford Crown Court, prosecutor Julian Christopher called it an “audacious raid.” On the night of the theft, a group of men crashed through the gates in two stolen vehicles, broke a palace window, and swiftly removed the golden toilet.

The toilet has never been recovered, but authorities suspect it was cut up and sold as gold.

Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of British leader Winston Churchill, suffered significant damage from the theft. The case highlights how even highly secure locations can be targeted by determined thieves.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

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Digital Thinking

Luca wrote about a school camp. Read his first draft. It contains some errors.

Camp Adventure

Last term our class went to camp by the lake. It was a exciting experience. We packed our bags and loaded them onto the bus. When we arrived we set up our tents near the trees. Later that day we went kayaking on the water. I was nervous at first, but then I started to enjoy it. That night we sat around the campfire and told stories. My friend said, “this is the best camp ever!”

What change should be made to the section in bold?