Further arrests over £300,000 Neal's Yard cheese theft

Detectives investigating the theft of almost £300,000 worth of cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy in London have made further arrests.

Fraudsters posed as distributors for a major French retailer to order over 950 wheels of cheese from the supplier last October.

A 63-year-old man was arrested on 30 October on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. He was subsequently bailed pending further enquiries. 

Police said they have made further arrests in the new year.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on 2 January on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and handling stolen goods.

A 45-year-old man was later arrested on 13 January on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and handling stolen goods.

Both men were taken to a north London police station and released under investigation pending further enquiries.

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Neal’s Yard said it had lost over 22 tonnes of clothbound Cheddar to the fake buyers, including Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork Cheddar.

Hospitality businesses have been warned to be wary of false goods and fake wholesalers in the supply chain following the incident.