In a truly audacious act of theft, a gang of burglars stormed the grounds of the iconic Blenheim Palace, just before 5 a.m. on September 14, 2019, stealing an 18-carat gold toilet valued at an incredible £4.8 million.
CCTV footage captured the dramatic raid, showing the thieves arriving in stolen cars and using sledgehammers to break into the palace, before making off with the priceless toilet in just five minutes.
The toilet, titled America, had been part of an exhibition that had opened just a day earlier.
It was fully plumbed in, allowing visitors to actually use it, which made its theft all the more bizarre.
The toilet weighed 98kg, making it no small feat for the thieves to carry it away. To this day, the toilet has never been recovered.
The Burglary and Its Investigation
Three men are now on trial at Oxford Crown Court in connection with the theft.
Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, is facing burglary charges, while Frederick Doe, 36, from Windsor, and Bora Guccuk, 41, from London, are accused of transferring criminal property. The trio denies all charges.
Another man, James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, pleaded guilty to burglary earlier in the proceedings.
The CCTV footage from the night of the burglary is nothing short of extraordinary.
The gang arrived at 4:49 a.m., driving two stolen cars.
They were seen wearing duffle coats with their hoods up, and upon arrival, they quickly began their mission.
The footage shows them using sledgehammers and crowbars to break into a window, before pulling the gold toilet out of the building.
They then hastily loaded the toilet into the back of one of the cars, before making their getaway.
The Investigation Continues
Prosecutors have revealed that Jones had visited Blenheim Palace just days before the heist, seemingly scouting the location for the theft.
On September 7, Jones, accompanied by his wife, wandered through the exhibition, with prosecutors alleging that the trip was part of his reconnaissance mission.
Further investigation revealed WhatsApp messages and voice notes between Jones and Sheen in the lead-up to the burglary.
The messages suggested that the planning was ongoing, with Jones discussing the heist’s progress.
As the trial continues, the court has learned about Jones’s visit to the palace on September 13, just hours before the burglary took place.
During this visit, Jones took photos of the toilet and the lock on the bathroom door, further implicating him in the crime.
The case remains under investigation, and the stolen toilet has yet to be found.
The trial is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover all the details of this incredible heist.