Holiday thief swipes van with 2,500 pies, chef pleads for mercy
The owner of two Michelin-starred restaurants in the United Kingdom has appealed to the thief who stole a van containing 2,500 frozen pies. "Do something nice, the holidays are coming," he wrote.
7:07 AM EST, December 3, 2024
Tommy Banks, the owner of the two Michelin-starred restaurants, lost a company van when thieves drove off with it, along with 2,500 frozen pies that had been prepared for a holiday market.
Banks appealed to the decency of the thieves and asked the person or persons responsible for the van’s disappearance to make a kind gesture before the holidays.
Thief stole a refrigerated van with 2,500 frozen pies
According to "The Washington Post," the refrigerated van was stolen on Sunday in Melmerby, North Yorkshire. The vehicle was packed with savory pies made with a pastry crust and a meat-vegetable filling.
In an interview with the BBC, Banks explained that the pies came in various savory flavors, including beer steak. Traditional English pies were also available, filled with turkey, cranberry, and pumpkin.
This supply was intended for a week's worth of sales at a holiday treat stall in York. Banks emphasized that the products could have fed several thousand people and that the stolen pies were worth around $30,000.
The restaurant owner is not concerned about the lost van, as he will receive compensation for it. However, he is disheartened by the loss of such a large quantity of food and fears it will go to waste.
"I know you are a criminal, but maybe just do something nice, the holidays are coming," Banks said in a social media video. "Do the right thing; maybe we can use the stolen pies to feed several thousand people," he added. He urged the thief to donate the goods to a social service center.
