In a brazen pre-Christmas theft, a towering 8ft nutcracker soldier statue has been stolen from outside a popular Edinburgh cocktail bar, leaving its management devastated.
The Audacious E-bike Heist
The incident occurred at approximately 10.10pm on Monday at the corner of George Street and North Castle Street. CCTV footage captured the moment a thief, who appears to be a male wearing a mask and a hood, cycled up to the £900 decoration on an electric bike.
In a clumsy but determined effort, the individual was seen placing the 13kg statue over his lap. The theft was not a swift operation; the culprit reportedly fell off his bike during the struggle to manoeuvre the large item. During the process, a £350 table was also broken, adding to the financial damage.
A 'Catastrophic' Financial Blow
Speaking to Sky News, Paul Baxton, the manager of the Copper Blossom bar, described the theft as a massive financial setback. He revealed the nutcracker was part of a Christmas display that had cost the venue thousands of pounds to create.
"The individual nutcrackers are about £900 each," Mr Baxton stated, characterising the loss as "pretty catastrophic" for the business in the run-up to the festive period.
Disappointment Over Lack of Witness Intervention
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the theft was that it occurred on a street that was reportedly busy at the time. Mr Baxton expressed his profound disappointment that none of the 12 or 13 people who walked past during the incident alerted him or his staff.
"It wasn't a quick process - he fell off his bike," Mr Baxton told BBC News, detailing how the thief pushed tables aside, breaking one, before yanking the nutcracker away. "A heads-up would have been lovely. The people on the street didn't really bat an eyelid."
He added that even a quick warning from a passer-by could have potentially prevented the loss, as the thief struggled to lay the 8ft statue horizontally across his small e-bike.
Police Scotland have been informed and are investigating the matter. As a precaution, the second nutcracker from the pair has now been moved safely indoors by the bar staff.
