Police investigating the theft of 22 tonnes of cheese have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods.
It follows the theft at Neal’s Yard Dairy in Southwark, south London, last week.
Company bosses said the firm had lost clothbound Cheddar worth more than £300,000 after they were conned by a fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.
They added they only discovered the person’s identity was fake after a total of 950 cheeses were delivered.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Thursday that investigating officers arrested a 63-year-old man who “was taken to a south London police station where he was questioned”.
The force said the man “has since been bailed pending further inquiries”.
Neal’s Yard Dairy said last week the three types of artisan cheeses stolen were Hafod Welsh Organic Cheddar, Westcombe Cheddar, and Pitchfork Cheddar.
It added the trio “have won numerous awards and are amongst the most sought-after artisan cheeses in the UK,” and suggested their “high monetary value” made them “a particular target for the thieves”.
Despite what they described as a “significant financial blow”, Neal’s Yard said it had honoured its commitment to its small-scale suppliers and had already paid the three artisan cheesemakers in full.
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