In a daring heist that shocked the art world, a unique 18-carat gold toilet worth millions was stolen from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The toilet, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and titled 'America,' was a satirical commentary on wealth and excess.
The audacious raid took place in the early hours of September 14, 2019, when a group of men broke into the palace and swiftly removed the golden toilet. The piece, weighing over 200 pounds and insured for millions, was never recovered and is believed to have been dismantled and sold.
Prior to the theft, one of the defendants conducted reconnaissance at the palace, taking photos of the window that was later smashed for entry. The burglars, arriving in stolen vehicles, caused significant damage to the historic building as they extracted the toilet from its plumbing.
Following the burglary, one of the defendants, a builder, orchestrated the sale of the stolen gold. Text messages revealed plans to transfer the 'car,' a code term for the valuable loot. Despite their involvement, all defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
The stolen toilet had previously been exhibited at The Guggenheim Museum in New York and was even offered to President Donald Trump. Its disappearance from Blenheim Palace remains a mystery, leaving authorities and art enthusiasts baffled by the brazen theft.
