Paddington Bear Statue Stolen and Damaged in Newbury, Two Arrested

The iconic sculpture, taken from Michael Bond's hometown, has been recovered and is set for restoration.

The Paddington Bear statue, located in Newbury, England, was stolen and vandalized early Sunday morning, with the sculpture sliced in half.
Two 22-year-old men, both from Basingstoke, have been arrested on charges of theft and criminal damage and are currently out on conditional bail.
The statue, depicting Paddington with his signature red hat and marmalade sandwich, was recovered by police and will undergo restoration before being returned to its original location.
The statue was installed in October 2024 as part of a promotional campaign for the upcoming film 'Paddington in Peru' and has since become a beloved local attraction.
Local officials and residents expressed both outrage over the vandalism and relief at the statue's recovery, emphasizing its cultural significance to the community.