London's culinary scene faced a bizarre theft this December when renowned chef Tommy Banks's van containing 2,500 pies valued at £25,000 ($32,000) was stolen just days before the York Christmas Market. Banks, who owns two Michelin-starred restaurants along with other eateries, described the incident as deeply disappointing, especially considering the effort involved in creating each handmade pie. "It’s kind of sad because it’s a lot of meat and a lot of flour and eggs and a lot of work," he expressed via social media shortly after the theft.
The van, loaded with various delicious flavors including steak and ale, butternut squash and sage, turkey and cranberry, and even custard, was reported missing by his staff on December 2. Banks shared his distress on Instagram, emphasizing not only the loss of the vehicle but also the potential waste of food, appealing to the thieves to return the pies.
"I know you’re a criminal, but maybe just do something nice, ‘cause it’s Christmas," he suggested, urging them to donate the stolen goods rather than let them go to waste. He recommended dropping the pies off at community centers where they could do some good.
Fortunately, the story took a turn for the bizarre when police located the stolen van, albeit badly damaged and abandoned with false number plates, roughly thirty miles from where it had been stolen. Upon recovery, it became apparent the pies were unsalvageable. "The van has been found with fake plates on it by the police but is badly damaged and will almost certainly be written off," Banks shared. "The pies are in the van but have been badly damaged and not refrigerated, so are also written off unfortunately."
Despite the unsatisfactory outcome, Banks found solace in the overwhelming support received from the community, including offers from local businesses to help restock his shop. A representative for Tommy's Pie Shop elaborated on the emotional toll the incident had on the staff, noting, "It takes us a long time to make our pies, especially at quantity, so that's a lot of work gone.”
Interestingly, this theft is not isolated. Earlier this fall, London’s Neal’s Yard Dairy reported the theft of nearly 1,000 wheels of artisanal cheddar, weighing 22 metric tons and worth £300,000. It appears UK food thefts are becoming increasingly prevalent, catching the attention not only of local doll makers and bakers but also food appreciators around the globe.
Among the community support, special stories emerged. An eleven-year-old boy, touched by Banks's plight, took it upon himself to help by baking his own pies to replace those lost. Joshie Harris, who doesn’t communicate verbally but expresses himself through baking, wanted to contribute to the festive spirit of giving. His father recounted how his son, when learning about the incident, felt the need to help.", "He wanted to show, especially at Christmas, these kinds of things shouldn’t be happening,” he said.
On the brighter side, as Banks remarked on the strange capture of media attention due to the theft, he embraced the positive takeaways of the situation. "We’re obviously hugely disappointed, but the support from so many has been really encouraging, and we're working hard to get back up and running," Banks stated following the extensive offers of help he received.
It's clear this unusual case of pie theft spoke to more than just food loss, highlighting community values, the spirit of the season, and how adversities can inspire kindness, even among unconventional circumstances.