Thieves Steal Van With 2,500 Pies Worth $32,000 From Michelin-Starred Chef

The stolen van, intended for a Christmas market, was recovered but the pies were damaged and unsalvageable.

Chef Tommy Banks, owner of Michelin-starred restaurants in North Yorkshire, reported the theft of a refrigerated van carrying 2,500 pies valued at $32,000.
The van, taken from a business park, was recovered by police in Middlesbrough with false number plates, but the pies were found damaged and unusable.
The pies, intended for a York Christmas market, included varieties such as steak and ale, turkey and butternut squash, and were a week’s worth of stock for Banks’ pop-up stall.
Banks appealed to the thieves via social media, urging them to donate the pies to those in need, highlighting the waste of nearly a ton of food.
The incident follows a recent trend of food-related thefts in the UK, including a $390,000 cheese heist in October.