A bar owner in Edinburgh is appealing for the return of his beloved £900 Nutcracker statue after it was brazenly stolen by a thief on an e-bike in a festive crime that has left the venue's Christmas display incomplete.
The Brazen Theft
The incident occurred on George Street, Edinburgh at 10pm on Tuesday, with CCTV capturing the entire event. The masked suspect cycled up to the Copper Blossom cocktail bar and began yanking the eight-foot festive decoration from its position outside the venue.
Manager Paul Paxton told BBC Scotland: "We were still open and had just stacked up all the outdoor furniture in front of the statue five minutes beforehand. He cycles up on his e-bike and it all happens in the space of a minute, it's so fast."
The thief pushed aside furniture and broke a £350 table during the struggle to free the decoration. Despite falling off his bike once during the attempt, the perpetrator managed to balance the 13kg soldier statue horizontally across his e-bike and make a slow, unstable getaway.
Aftermath and Appeal
The Copper Blossom team is now desperately searching for the stolen statue, named Nolan, hoping to reunite him with his fellow Nutcracker soldier, Nelson. The pair form part of the venue's popular seasonal display that traditionally draws crowds of photographers every Christmas.
"He pushed everything aside and pulls the tables over and one falls and breaks and then he yanks the Nutcracker away," Paxton described. "It's an 8ft statue horizontally across a little e-bike. The people on the street didn't really bat an eyelid."
The remaining Nutcracker, Nelson, has now been moved securely indoors to prevent any further theft attempts. The bar's festive displays, which feature life-size decorations dating back to the 17th Century, are a much-anticipated feature of Edinburgh's Christmas scene.
Police Investigation
The crime has been recorded on CCTV, and footage has been shared with Police Scotland to aid their investigation. A police spokesperson confirmed that inquiries remain at an early stage as they work to identify the suspect.
Witnesses or anyone with information about the distinctive stolen Nutcracker statue are encouraged to contact Police Scotland with any information that might help recover the festive decoration and identify the e-bike rider responsible for the unusual Christmas crime.
