Mulled wine heist foiled by sniffer dog
A police dog sniffed out stolen mulled wine worth £110k in Yorkshire this week after the perpetrator robbed a sea container containing the popular festive drink.
You know the countdown to Christmas has begun when talk turns to mulled wine, but one individual took his enthusiasm for the warm Christmas drink too far when he stole a vehicle carrying a sea container full of the spiced liquid.
The lorry and container were stolen from Rotherham, Kent, in south east England, and was spotted being driven through South Yorkshire on Tuesday sporting false registration plates. The criminal was caught after a dog handler and road police unit were deployed to intercept the HGV.
According to police, the culprit attempted to flee on foot after being pulled over but was soon stopped in his tracks by police dog Rocco, who went on to carry out a search of the shipping container, uncovering 26 pallets of mulled wine worth £110,000. A 45-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, driving without license or insurance, driving while being disqualified, and possession of Class A and Class B drugs.
However, it seems like the thief will be home by the fire in time for Christmas and more of his favourite mulled wine as he has been released on bail pending further investigation. According to a South Yorkshire policeman “the man has been remanded in custody for driving offences, and released on police bail while our investigation progresses. Great work by the Operational Support Unit and PD Rocco!”
Festive favourite
Mulled wine continues to be the runaway drink during the festive period. Last year, online casino VegasSlotsOnline recruited a mulled wine taste tester, offering £50 an hour to rate each tipple for aroma, appearance, flavour, price and quality.
In recent years, fans of the aromatic hot drink have been experimenting with ever more upmarket versions. Peter Richards MW caused a social media storm when he admitted to trying to heat Bordeaux First Growths, including bottles of Chateau Margaux 1995, in a pan of warm water on the stove.
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Posting on X he wrote: “TRIGGER WARNING for wine nerds: how do you get your special (red) wines to the right temperature if they’re too cold?! Have to admit that this situation (first growths in a pan of warm water) did give me the fear.”
However mulled wine sales in the on-trade came under threat last year when an outdoor heater ban was rolled out in European countries including Spain and France. In Madrid alone there were thought to be 3,000 outdoor terraces with gas heaters, where customers enjoyed drinks including mulled wine.
Speaking to the drinks business, trade organisation UKHospitality said that outdoor spaces are key in helping businesses to keep their heads above water.
“Hospitality businesses in the UK have invested heavily in their outdoor spaces over recent years, particularly following the trading restrictions put upon the industry during the Covid pandemic,” said Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality. “These investments have been made so that businesses can make the most of their outdoor spaces all-year-round, with outdoor heaters helping to ensure guests are protected from the elements and, in turn, giving businesses maximum space and opportunity to trade and drive revenue.”
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