In a truly bizarre pre-Christmas crime, a thief dubbed a 'Grinch on an e-bike' has made off with a towering £900 nutcracker statue from outside a popular Edinburgh cocktail bar.
The festive figure, named Nolan, was brazenly stolen from its post outside the Copper Blossom on George Street in Edinburgh city centre on Monday evening. The entire incident was captured on CCTV, which shows a hooded man grappling with the 8ft soldier.
The Bungled Snatch and Grab
The security footage reveals the chaotic moment the culprit attempts to lift the valuable statue onto his electric bicycle. The operation was far from smooth, as the thief almost fell off his bike during the struggle. In the process, he managed to break one of the bar's outdoor tables, valued at £350.
His troubles did not end there. As he cycled away with the stolen nutcracker precariously balanced, the statue was seen bashing into a bollard, causing the man to nearly topple from his bicycle a second time before he disappeared from view.
A Festive Display Diminished
The incident was reported to Police Scotland the following day, around 1pm on Tuesday. By Friday, the statue's whereabouts remained a complete mystery. Paul Paxton, the general manager of Copper Blossom, confirmed the statue has completely vanished.
"We've got the police coming to see us today so hopefully we'll hear a little bit more about it," Mr Paxton said. He also mentioned that the venue has received messages from members of the public claiming to have spotted the distinctive statue a few kilometres away.
Nolan was one of a pair; he was twinned with a fellow nutcracker named Nelson, and together they formed a key part of the venue's Christmas display. Mr Paxton has been left baffled by the motive, stating he has no idea what the thief will use the 8ft soldier for. He has even scoured online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace in the hope of finding it listed for sale, but with no luck.
An Appeal for the Nutcracker's Return
In a light-hearted attempt to resolve the situation, the venue has announced that if Nolan is returned 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 admitted.
Despite the frustration, the bar is trying to maintain a sense of humour. "Some of the comments online are absolutely wild and so funny," Mr Paxton said, "so we've tried to keep it light-hearted, but also keep it professional."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed the report and stated that inquiries are at an early stage.
