Police Release CCTV Footage of £4.75 Million Gold Toilet Theft in Blenheim Palace Heist.

In a bizarre and audacious heist, CCTV footage has revealed the moment thieves made off with a £4.75 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace. The high-value item, created by renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen during a daring early morning burglary in September 2019. The toilet, which was fully functional and named "America," was installed as part of an art exhibit at the palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

The footage shown to jurors at Oxford Crown Court captures two vehicles racing across the lawn of the palace. Three individuals can be seen entering the building and, within five minutes, rolling the 18-carat gold toilet out of the palace and loading it into a blue VW Golf. The vehicle, visibly sagging under the weight of the 98kg toilet, was seen driving away from the scene.

A member of the group was spotted holding onto the golden toilet seat, which was also thrown into the vehicle. The toilet, insured for a value of £4.75 million (approximately $6 million), had been a highlight of the exhibition.

Palace security guards, who had been monitoring the CCTV footage, quickly pursued the thieves on foot but were unable to catch up with the vehicles. Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, is facing charges of theft in connection with the burglary, while Frederick Sines, 36, from Windsor, Berkshire, and Bora Guccuk, 41, from West London, are accused of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

The prosecution alleges that Sines and Guccuk conspired to assist James Sheen, who was involved in the burglary, in selling the stolen gold. Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has already pleaded guilty to burglary. The trio's actions led to the theft of a unique and valuable piece of art, which has yet to be recovered.

Prosecutor Julian Christopher KC remarked, "Clearly, such an audacious raid would not have been possible without lots of preparation." The thieves gained entry to the palace by driving through locked wooden gates and breaking a window to access the room where the toilet was installed. They then removed the toilet, leaving water pouring from the pipes.

Blenheim Palace

The stolen toilet had drawn attention for its bold commentary on wealth and excess, gaining further media attention when it was suggested to President Donald Trump as a "golden" piece to borrow for the White House.

In the aftermath of the theft, two individuals allegedly used "car" as a code for the stolen gold and reportedly contacted a jeweler in Hatton Garden. Prosecutors presented evidence that Jones and his partner, Carly Jones, scouted the palace site in the days before the theft.

The trial is ongoing, with the defendants pleading not guilty. The heist has captivated public imagination due to the sheer audacity and the outrageous value of the stolen art piece.

Some examples of art thefts from historic UK palaces and locations include:

1. The Theft of the 'Stolen Portrait' of Sir Winston Churchill (1950s):

   • In the 1950s, a painting of Winston Churchill by John L. Hughes was stolen from the Palace of Westminster. The portrait was part of the House of Commons collection, and though it was eventually recovered, the incident highlighted vulnerability in securing valuable works of art in government buildings.

2. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist (UK connection):

   • While not directly from a palace in the UK, this famous art theft in 1990 (Boston, USA) had connections to British art circles. The stolen artwork included pieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt and remains one of the biggest art heists in history. Some investigators believe the stolen pieces were smuggled out of the U.S. and into Europe, with potential links to British art markets.

3. The 'Queen's Jewellery Heist' (1972):

   • Though not directly an "art piece," jewels and crown artifacts have been targeted in various heists from royal palaces and private collections. For example, the Crown Jewels of the UK have been stolen or attempted to be stolen on various occasions, such as the Great British Jewel Robbery in the 1950s. The Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels, has had multiple attempts at theft throughout history.

4. The 'Nazi Looted Art' from UK Collections:

   • During and after World War II, Nazi forces looted various works of art, some of which ended up in UK collections. Though many works were recovered, some pieces remain unaccounted for, and there have been efforts by the UK government to return these items to their rightful owners.

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