Following a string of fresh product thefts at his restaurant, David Straker, who owns Harrogate-based wine and bar venue William and Victoria, has tracked down brie stolen from outside his building.
Security footage showed hooded thieves stealing goods from a storage box just minutes after it was delivered. Frustrated with numerous thefts and in attempt to catch the culprits, Straker, 56, had a brainwave, attaching an AirTag tracker to the inside of a £10 wheel of Granarolo brie.
Sure enough after planting the tagged cheese in the storage box outside the restaurant, it was taken.
With the AirTag in place, Straker was able to follow the cheese’s journey via his phone, which made its way around West Yorkshire to various locations in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Otley and Menston.
The restaurateur visited one of the properties, but opted not to confront the thieves, stating that the appearance and smell of a ‘certain substance’ made him think twice.
The tracker has remained static still Christmas Eve, which indicates the tracker has been found and possibly both the cheese and AirTag discarded.
A spokesperson for William and Victoria told local media outlet Your Harrogate: “This theft has a cost: not just to us, but to the many independent businesses trying to make ends meet.
“Hospitality is a cornerstone of our community, and we need your support—not just to stay afloat but to thrive.
“So, next time you see a suspicious cyclist with a backpack full of dairy, spare a thought for us and our lost brie. And remember: crime might pay, but cheese always costs.”
