Thieves in northern England may have taken more than they expected when they stole a van carrying 2,500 pies, valued at around £25,000 ($31,600). Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks revealed on Monday that the pies were ready to be delivered to the York Christmas Market when the van was taken.
“We’ve been robbed,” Banks said in an Instagram video. “Out there somewhere is our van and nearly a ton of pies with my name on them.”
Banks, who owns the Michelin-starred pub The Black Swan in Oldstead along with several other food businesses, added that the thieves likely didn’t anticipate the nearly ton of pies in the back of the van. He even addressed the thieves directly, in case they were watching the video.
“You can’t do anything with these pies because they have my name on them,” Banks said, before urging the thieves to return the food. He suggested they drop it off at a community center, adding, “I know you’re a criminal, but maybe do something good for once since it’s Christmas. We could feed thousands of people with these pies you’ve stolen. Do the right thing.”
The chef shared a video along with a caption expressing his frustration over a theft. He explained that the stolen pies were all boxed with his name on them, making them difficult to sell. He urged the thieves, if they were reading the message, to return the pies so they could be distributed to people in need, rather than wasted. In a more personal remark, he also called the thieves “a thieving piece of sh*t” and wished that they wouldn’t receive any Christmas presents.
On Tuesday, Banks updated his Instagram followers with news that the police believe they have located the van involved in the theft, which had fake license plates. However, he mentioned that the condition and whereabouts of the pies were still unknown.
North Yorkshire Police released a statement on Tuesday confirming the vehicle had been found abandoned with counterfeit plates. The investigation is ongoing, and they have asked anyone with information to come forward.
The theft occurred just weeks after a similar incident, where scammers stole over 24 tons of artisanal cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of the UK’s most renowned dairy companies. The London-based business revealed the unusual theft in an Instagram post at the end of October, sharing the “difficult news” with its followers.
