A couple from Spalwick, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, had their three-metre-high nutcracker stolen from outside their home. The item, worth £2,500 (about 17,700 Brazilian reais), was removed in a bold manner and moved into the back of the car, according to security camera images.
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According to the BBC, recordings show a car stopping at around eight in the evening on Wednesday (26). Two people allegedly jumped over the wall of the residence, separated the huge nutcracker and dragged the piece to a waiting car. The couple did not notice the disappearance until the next morning.
Doug Piekarski (51 years old) told the British newspaper that he was puzzled by what happened: “Because of its size and weight, it stands out a lot. There is no point in stealing it. Maybe someone wanted to get on the naughty list with a piece of coal.” He said that after last year’s storms, the object was attached to the wall, but this year it was raised again to the front of the house.
The nutcracker weighs about 79 kg, and usually needs two people to move. According to Doug, the thieves tried to take the second piece ten minutes later, to no avail. The couple’s home, known as the ‘Christmas House’, attracts visitors every year and raises money for the Woodgreen Pets charity in Godmanchester.
Liz Piekarski, a volunteer at the organization, said that her passion for Christmas comes from her childhood, when she watched the movie Home Alone, and it highlighted community involvement. But the theft left the couple frustrated. “We ended up losing a little bit of faith in humanity. It was sad and depressing,” Doug said.
In a gesture of solidarity, local children left two miniature nutcrackers on Piekarski’s door, along with an apology card for the loss. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed that the theft had been reported and were investigating the case.