A Con Man Steals Almost 22 Tons Worth Of Award-Winning Cheese

Thousands of pounds of expensive award-winning cheese have been stolen from a cheese brand called Neal’s Yard Dairy. Apparently, it sold 48,488 pounds (22 metric tons) to a con artist who posed as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer. 

Approximately $390,000 (300,000 British pounds) was stolen before Neal’s Yard Dairy realized it. “The high monetary value of these cheeses likely made them a particular target for the thieves,” the company said in a statement. International authorities and local detectives are on the case. 

Three cheesemakers at Neal’s Yard Dairy fell victim to thievery, losing a total of 1,000 cheese wheels: Pitchfork cheddar, Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, and Westcombe cheddar. For example, a wedge of Hafod Welsh cheddar costs $16.70 for 9.5 ounces and is typically aged 12 to 18 months.

The stolen cheese comes in 22-pound (10-kilogram) and 52-pound (24-kilogram) blocks, so if you happen to spot any at your local cheese purveyor, feel free to inform Neal’s Yard Dairy.