Festive Statue Vanishes in Bizarre Bicycle Heist
An 8ft nutcracker statue has been mysteriously stolen from outside a popular cocktail bar in Edinburgh city centre. The incident, which took place on Monday evening outside Copper Blossom on George Street, was captured on CCTV, showing a hooded man on a bicycle making off with the £900 festive figure.
CCTV Footage Reveals Chaotic Scene
The security footage reveals the peculiar moment the thief, whose identity remains unknown, attempts to pick up the large soldier statue. The act was so cumbersome that he almost fell off his bicycle during the process. In the struggle, the culprit also managed to break one of the bar's £350 outdoor tables.
As the man cycled away, the stolen nutcracker was seen bashing against a bollard, causing the thief to nearly lose his balance once again. The brazen theft was reported to Police Scotland the following day at around 1pm on Tuesday, November 25.
Bar Manager Baffled by Motive as Search Continues
Speaking on Friday, the bar's general manager, Paul Paxton, expressed his confusion over the incident, stating he has “no idea” why someone would steal the statue. “It has completely vanished,” Mr Paxton said. “We’ve got the police coming to see us today so hopefully we’ll hear a little bit more about it.”
The stolen statue, named Nolan, was a key part of the venue's Christmas display, twinned with a second nutcracker called Nelson. Mr Paxton has even scoured online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace in the hope of finding Nolan listed for sale, but so far, his searches have been fruitless.
The bar has issued an appeal for the statue's safe return, promising that if Nolan is brought back willingly, no further action will be taken. However, Mr Paxton is not optimistic. “He’s going to have to bring it back on the bike and put himself out there a bit, so I don’t think it’ll be returned,” he commented.
Despite the frustration, the bar is trying to maintain a sense of humour about the situation. “Some of the comments online are absolutely wild and so funny, so we’ve tried to keep it light-hearted, but also keep it professional,” Mr Paxton added.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed the incident, stating: “Around 1pm on Tuesday November 25, we received a report of a theft from a premises on George Street, Edinburgh. Inquiries are at an early stage.”
