Fact Check: "In October 2019, just one month after the heist, police arrested Sheen and Jones but they were subsequently released."
What We Know
In October 2019, police arrested James 'Jimmy' Sheen and Michael Jones, who were implicated in the theft of a £4.8 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace. The heist occurred shortly after the artwork, titled "America" by Maurizio Cattelan, was unveiled at a launch party on September 14, 2019. The toilet was stolen in a brazen burglary that took less than six minutes to execute (BBC).
Sheen was arrested on October 16, 2019, just a month after the theft, but he was released on bail. The investigation into the heist was complicated and lengthy, leading to no charges being filed against the suspects until four years later (BBC). The police arrested a total of 12 individuals during the investigation, but only four met the evidential threshold for charges (BBC).
Analysis
The claim that Sheen and Jones were arrested in October 2019 and subsequently released is corroborated by multiple credible sources. The BBC reports that Sheen was arrested on October 16, 2019, but was released on bail, which aligns with the claim made (BBC). Furthermore, the investigation was extensive, involving the examination of numerous digital devices and forensic evidence, which contributed to the delay in charging the suspects (BBC).
The reliability of the sources is high, as they are reputable news organizations with a track record of accurate reporting. The BBC, in particular, has provided detailed coverage of the case, including the timeline of events and the legal proceedings that followed the heist. The information presented is consistent across different articles, reinforcing the credibility of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "In October 2019, just one month after the heist, police arrested Sheen and Jones but they were subsequently released" is True. The evidence from reliable sources confirms that both individuals were indeed arrested shortly after the heist but were released on bail, with charges not being filed until years later due to the complexities of the investigation.
