London, 26 February 2025:
CCTV footage has been released of the theft of a gold toilet worth £4.75 million from Blenheim Palace in England in September 2019. The video shows three thieves entering the palace in two cars as they speed across the palace lawns. Five minutes later, they remove the 18-carat gold toilet from the palace and leave in the trunk of their car.
Footage shows a thief returning with a gold toilet seat, which he lifts into the back of a blue VW Golf. The car's suspension buckles due to the 98kg weight of the gold toilet. The car quickly flees and palace security guards chase after them, despite seeing the incident on CCTV.
Artworks on display at Blenheim Palace America It was known as the "L'Etoile" and was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. It was a fully functioning toilet that was insured for around £4.75 million. It was a major attraction at the palace, but is believed to have been dismantled after it was stolen.
The three men accused of the theft are Michael Jones, Frederick Sines, and Bora Gucuk. Michael Jones has recently denied the theft, while Sines and Gucuk are on trial for their alleged involvement in the crime. The investigation also revealed that they had been conducting surveillance in plain clothes at the palace before the theft.
This is a unique case of theft, where thieves stole a world-class work of art from a historic site with complete preparation.
