Thief caught on camera stealing giant Edinburgh Christmas decoration

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CCTV footage has captured a daring theft involving an electric bike rider who stole a large Christmas Nutcracker statue outside a cocktail bar in Edinburgh. The individual, dressed in a hood and mask, was seen transporting the 8-foot tall figure, valued at £900, by balancing it across his lap as he rode away from the scene.

The theft occurred at 10:10 PM on Monday outside Copper Blossom, located at the intersection of George Street and North Castle Street. Police have been notified, and investigations are underway. Paul Paxton, the bar’s manager, expressed his disbelief at the audacity of the crime, noting that it took place in broad daylight with passersby nearby. “People were walking past as he was loading up his bike, it’s so shocking,” he said.

The giant Nutcracker doll, weighing approximately 28 pounds (13 kilograms), is a traditional German Christmas decoration dating back to the 17th century. It was part of an elaborate holiday display outside the basement bar that cost several thousand pounds. The video footage shows the thief knocking over furniture, breaking a table worth £350, and then forcefully pulling the statue from the railings before attempting to mount his e-bike with the statue positioned horizontally.

Mr. Paxton described the speed and boldness of the theft, pointing out how quickly it happened after the outdoor furniture had just been placed in front of the decoration. The thief even fell off his bike when trying to secure the Nutcracker, which is notably large for such a small vehicle. Despite the commotion, bystanders appeared unfazed. Paxton also highlighted the impact of losing one of the key attractions of their front-door display so early in the season, stressing the importance of the decorations for attracting customers to their basement venue. The remaining Nutcracker from the pair is now being stored inside overnight to prevent a similar incident

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