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.
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