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A Harrogate restaurant has shared its brie-lliant plan to catch cheese thieves who have been helping themselves to early-morning deliveries.
William and Victoria on Cold Bath Road has repeatedly seen its early-morning deliveries ravaged by thieves in the past few years.
And in an effort to catch those responsible, the venue has decided to set a trap in the form of an AirTag - a tracking device developed by tech giants Apple.
It comes after cameras, lock boxes and a change in delivery patterns weren’t enough to fend off cheese thieves.
After tracking their stolen cheese across Harrogate, William and Victoria staff have taken to the venue’s online blog to share the series of events:
“Friday: Our cheese is swiped at 7:30 a.m. (RIP, Brie). The AirTag leads us to a property near Asda. We take a photo of the door like we’re paparazzi for the dairy underworld.
“Saturday: The cheese moves again. This time, to a dishevelled house half a mile away. We find bikes matching our CCTV footage and another suspiciously run-down door. No knock. Just notes.
“Sunday: The cheese migrates downtown. We chase it through back alleys, businesses, and bins, but it remains elusive.
“Monday: The cheese relocates to the outskirts of town, now resting at a property with a pile of discarded mattresses in the garden. Its AirTag signal blinks defiantly.”
Will and Vics staff are now asking residents to look out for ‘contraband’ cheese on sale.
They said:
“We ask you, the people of Harrogate, to help us make sense of this madness?
“Have you unknowingly purchased contraband cheese? (It pairs terribly with guilt, by the way.)
“Have you noticed shady figures peddling pilfered parmesan? Let us know.”
They added:
“This theft has a cost: not just to us, but to the many independent businesses trying to make ends meet.
“Hospitality is a cornerstone of our community, and we need your support—not just to stay afloat but to thrive.
“So, next time you see a suspicious cyclist with a backpack full of dairy, spare a thought for us and our lost brie. And remember: crime might pay, but cheese always costs.”
Read the full blog via the Will and Vice website here.
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