Christmas singing statue stolen from funeral home

Police have apprehended two men following the theft of a five-foot-tall nutcracker statue that delighted local children. The festive figure, which sang as students walked home from school, was taken from the entrance of Luke Allum Funeral Directors in Sheerness, Kent.

"We always aim to bring a bit of joy to the town during this season," said Luke Allum, the funeral home owner. He added that children "absolutely love" the statue when it performs at 3:00 PM, often posing for pictures with it.

Kent Police noted that the statue also served to make the funeral homes entrance more welcoming for those visiting in mourning.

Allum explained that the statue was stolen while he and his team were attending a funeral, leaving him bewildered. "You really wonder: why take a nutcracker of all things?" he said. He promptly reported the incident to authorities and shared the theft on social media, receiving a flood of supportive messages from the community.

The owner emphasized that the statue, valued at 250, is irreplaceable at the moment and expressed a desire for its return rather than monetary compensation. "Finding another nutcracker like this now is impossible," he said.

Kent Police stated the theft occurred around 1:00 PM on 5 December and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. The two suspects, aged 59 and 39 and both from Sheerness, remain in custody as the investigation continues.

Author: Noah Whitman