10 of the Weirdest Things Ever Stolen

The world of theft is often associated with valuable items like jewelry, electronics, and cash. However, there are instances where thieves have taken a more unusual route, targeting items that are downright bizarre and unexpected. In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the weirdest things ever stolen, highlighting the audacious and sometimes comical nature of these thefts.

1. The Eiffel Tower Stairs

In 1980, a daring thief managed to steal a section of the Eiffel Tower’s iron staircase. The thief disassembled a 13-foot segment weighing over half a ton. The motive behind this theft remains a mystery, but it speaks to the lengths some criminals will go to for an eccentric prize.

2. The World’s Smallest Book

Measuring just 0.9 by 0.9 millimeters, “Chekhov’s Chameleon” holds the record for the smallest book in the world. This miniature masterpiece disappeared from a Moscow library in 2013, leaving both literary enthusiasts and law enforcement puzzled.

3. The Solid Gold Toilet

A fully functional toilet made of 18-karat gold, titled “America,” was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England in 2019. Valued at around $6 million, the theft of this unusual art piece sparked discussions about the audacity of targeting such a unique item.

4. The Two-Headed Snake

A reptile enthusiast’s collection was struck by a bizarre heist when a thief made off with a two-headed albino Honduran milk snake. This peculiar pet theft raised questions about the thief’s intentions – did they have an affinity for rare serpents or an unusual sense of humor?

5. Bees by the Millions

Beekeeping is a lucrative business, and sometimes thieves take it to a whole new level. Millions of bees and entire hives have been stolen, possibly for their high value in pollinating crops and producing honey.

6. A Bridge in Bosnia

In a plot that seems like it’s out of a movie, thieves dismantled and made off with an entire bridge in Bosnia. This 10-ton metal structure vanished overnight, leaving local authorities scratching their heads.

7. The Garden Gnomes Liberation Front

A group calling themselves the “Garden Gnomes Liberation Front” claimed responsibility for a series of gnome thefts across Europe. These pranksters would steal garden gnomes and send postcards detailing their “travels” to the owners, prompting a mix of frustration and amusement.

8. The “Fool’s Gold” Heist

Thieves in Australia once stole over 16 tons of pyrite, commonly known as “fool’s gold,” from a mine. While not valuable in itself, this audacious theft highlighted the lengths criminals would go to deceive and profit.

9. Sharknapping

A bizarre theft occurred when a thief entered an aquarium in Texas, lifted a shark from a display, and wheeled it out in a baby carriage. Dubbed “sharknapping,” this incident raised concerns about the treatment of aquatic life and the lengths people will go for an attention-grabbing theft.

10. The Big Cheese Caper

A truckload of 20,000 pounds of cheese went missing in Wisconsin, the cheese capital of the United States. The theft, which involved multiple semitrailers, shone a light on the peculiar world of dairy product theft.