British Man 'Flushed Away Their Chance At A Clean Getaway' After Stealing A Golden Toilet

A Golden toilet thief and his associates forgot to plan for the part where they get away with the crime!

The thief and his accomplice reportedly did a tardy job when they raided an English palace to cart away an 18-carat gem in 2019.

Identified as Michael Jones, the burglar reportedly came to test run the unique bathroom accessory before carrying out the raid the next day.

Jones was convicted, along with an accomplice, for the audacious theft of a golden toilet from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. 

The 18-carat sculpture, entitled "America" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was valued at nearly 5 million pounds (over $6 million). Jones had even used the toilet for reconnaissance the day before the heist, describing the experience as "splendid."

On September 14, 2019, he returned before dawn with at least two accomplices armed with sledgehammers and crowbars. They smashed a window and removed the toilet from its plumbing in just five minutes, causing significant flooding as they fled in stolen vehicles. 

Prosecutor Shan Saunders addressed the careful planning of the theft but noted the culprits left a trail of forensic evidence, CCTV footage, and phone records that ultimately led to their convictions. 

Per AP News, Although the stolen toilet has never been recovered, it is believed to have been dismantled and sold.

The artwork, which had previously been displayed at The Guggenheim Museum in New York, caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed interest in borrowing a Van Gogh painting during his first term.

Jones, 39, was convicted of burglary at the Oxford Crown Court, a crime orchestrated by 40-year-old James Sheen. Sheen had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including burglary, conspiracy, and transferring criminal property.

He engaged in discussions with Fred Doe about selling the stolen items, referring to the gold as a "car" in a series of text messages. Sheen expressed that he had a lucrative opportunity, telling Doe, "I can sell that car for you in two seconds... so come and see me tomorrow." 

Doe, also known as Frederick Sines, aged 36, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Additionally, jurors found a fourth individual involved in the conspiracy, Bora Guccuk, 41, not guilty.

The news has caught the attention of social media users, who gave hilarious reactions to the incident and conviction of the thieves. This user went straight for the joke and word pun writing: 

"Guess they really flushed away their chance at a clean getaway!" 

Another person hilariously described the incident as "A Royal Flush." One commenter heaved a sigh of relief at the thief finally suffering the consequences of his criminal action. They wrote: "They finally got his ass."

"He caused a lot of pain and suffering for many who will only apply gold to their cheeks," this X user declared. One social media sympathizer held a different opinion: 

"Hope the guy didn't get too harsh a sentence. I mean... c'mon. A golden toilet? I'd steal it just so I could throw it in the trash."

Separated by continent but united by a similar string of bizarre loss, The Blast reported last year that a Florida woman who put her house up for sale came up to a shocking scene of a missing driveway.

Amanda Brochu reportedly put her Orlando-area home up for sale, hoping to move into a new place. However, unsolicited contractors showed up to measure her driveway while the house was listed.

Upon confronting one of them, Brochu learned that a man named Andre had hired them to estimate a driveway replacement at her address. Text messages from the contractor confirmed that Andre requested the estimate but was out of town when he was supposed to meet in person.

Communication ceased when the contractor asked for proof of ownership, prompting Brochu to call the police. After speaking with the contractors, the police informed Brochu that Andre claimed it was simply a mix-up regarding the address and that no further action would be taken.

However, just a week later, Brochu captured footage of a bulldozer demolishing her driveway on her doorbell camera.

The single mother, after making several investments, including a roof replacement, admitted that she found herself unable to afford the $10,000 needed to replace her driveway. According to Bronchu, the driveway is a crucial requirement for selling the property.

Concerned that the poor condition of the driveway would deter potential buyers, she expressed her frustration about its impact on her family's plans.

Her real estate agent, Rocki Sanchez, noted that she had never encountered a situation like this in her career. Sharing her experience in a Facebook group for realtors, Sanchez revealed that other agents had reported similar issues involving driveways and other home repairs, suggesting a troubling pattern.

The mother launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the driveway expenses, which quickly gained traction, raising over $13,000 within just six days. However, the fundraiser was eventually disabled.

What do you think about the punishment for the Golden toilet thief?