Three men on trial for stealing golden toilet from Blenheim Palace

In September 2019, a crafted 18-carat golden toilet entitled America, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England, where Winston Churchill was born. The audacious theft occurred in the early hours of September 14, 2019. Five men executed the plan using stolen vehicles, gaining access to the palace grounds and breaking in through a window in just five minutes, taking the fully functional toilet while leaving behind considerable damage and water flooding due to the plumbing disconnection. The toilet was valued at approximately £2.8 million and insured for $6 million, but it has never been found, likely dismantled and sold off for its gold value. Several defendants were charged related to the burglary and conspiracy, and the case has since progressed to trial. Only one of the accused, Michael Jones, has pleaded not guilty, while others have confessed to their roles in the plan, illustrating the meticulous preparation that went into this unusual crime, as they sought to profit from a work intended to satirize excessive wealth.