Police have released compelling CCTV footage capturing the brazen theft of a statue honouring East London boxing legend Teddy Baldock, known affectionately as 'The Pride of Poplar'. The incident occurred in Langdon Park during the early hours of Sunday, February 1st, with the perpetrators making off using a three-wheeled cargo bike.
Shocking CCTV Reveals Coordinated Night-Time Operation
The Metropolitan Police have issued a public appeal after obtaining surveillance video that shows four suspects, all dressed in black with their faces covered, removing the much-loved bronze statue. The footage reveals the group wiggling the monument from its stone plinth before carefully loading it onto a cargo tricycle and concealing it beneath a high-visibility jacket.
Detective Superintendent Oliver Richter, responsible for neighbourhood policing in Tower Hamlets, expressed concern about the impact on the local community. "We understand this is a very distressing time for members of our community to have a monument of a local hero treated this way," he stated. "I want to assure the public that our officers are working at pace to identify those responsible and will continue to follow every available line of enquiry."
Community Fundraising Effort Vandalised
The statue of Teddy Baldock, who remains Britain's youngest boxing world champion, was erected in Langdon Park in 2014 following an extensive community fundraising campaign that raised approximately £100,000. The project was spearheaded by Baldock's grandson, Martin Sax, who has expressed profound dismay at the theft.
"It took a lot of effort getting the statue erected," Mr Sax told MyLondon. "To know it's most likely going to be melted and turned into scrap is horrendous. The statue has been there for over 10 years, with no issues. I was concerned that it would be sprayed or tagged by local kids and I hoped the local community would have respect for it - and they obviously did. It was never tagged once."
Mr Sax added his concern that thieves might attempt to sell the bronze statue to scrap metal dealers, urging any such businesses to be vigilant. "Now, it's been cut down and stolen which is an absolute shocker. I hope that any scrap metal dealers that come across it, because it would have to be a certain facility that does it, they don't melt it down."
Police Investigation and Community Response
The suspects were last seen travelling northbound towards Bromley-by-Bow Tube Station following the theft. Notably, no tools were visible in the CCTV footage, suggesting the statue may have been relatively easily removed from its mounting.
The London Boxing History account on social media platform X has joined the appeal for information, describing the theft as "absolutely scandalous" and urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact authorities immediately.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference CAD 6133/1Feb, or to report anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The investigation continues as officers work to recover the stolen statue and bring those responsible to justice.
