TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

UK makes second arrest in golden toilet theft

  (Agence France-Presse)
London, United Kingdom
Fri, September 20, 2019 Published on Sep. 20, 2019 Published on 2019-09-20T16:41:31+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
This file photo taken on September 15, 2016 shows a fully functioning solid gold toilet, made by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which was going into public use at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. This file photo taken on September 15, 2016 shows a fully functioning solid gold toilet, made by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which was going into public use at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. (AFP/William Edwards)

B

ritish police on Tuesday made a second arrest in their hunt for thieves who stole a functioning 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and once offered on loan to US President Donald Trump, the toilet was stolen on Saturday -- just three days after it had been put on display.

It has been valued at around $5 to $6 million and been a hit with tourists, who lined up to snap selfies of them sitting on its golden seat.

Police in Oxford, the historic city on whose outskirts the palatial palace was built in the early 1700s, announced the arrest of a 36-year-old man who was then released pending an investigation.

Read also: Artist hopes gold toilet taken by 'Robin Hood' types

"We are continuing to investigate this incident and have made a second arrest in connection with it," investigative officer Steven Jones said in a statement.

"Our priority is to locate the stolen item."

The police have also arrested and released on bail a 66-year-old man suspected of being part of the gang.

Cattelan told The New York Times that his work, called "America," was "one-percent art for the 99 percent".

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.