Face of Nation : A solid gold toilet valued at £1m has been stolen from Blenheim Palace weeks after security concerns were dismissed by the family which owns the historic site. Burglars caused “significant damage and flooding” when they removed the plumbed-in artwork from the home of the Duke of Marlborough in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
The theft was reported to police minutes after the thieves left at around 4.50am. A 66 year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
“It’s not going to be the easiest thing to nick,” he told The Sunday Times last month. “Firstly its plumbed in and secondly a potential thief will have no idea who last used the toilet or what they ate. So no, I don’t plan on guarding it.”
Blenheim Palace, which markets itself as the birthplace of Winston Churchill, confirmed that it would be closed for the rest of the day while police remained at the scene.
“We can confirm ‘America’, the art piece by Maurizio Cattelan has been stolen in the early hours of this morning,” the palace said in a statement. ”We are saddened by this extraordinary event, but also relieved no one was hurt.
“We knew there was huge interest in the Maurizio Cattelan contemporary art exhibition, with many set to come and enjoy the installations. It’s therefore a great shame an item so precious has been taken.”
