Two large nutcracker statues, collectively valued at £500, were stolen from Alive Church in Norwich by two men in a black Audi A3. The theft occurred in late November when the men used bolt cutters to remove the decorations from the church's Santa's Grotto. The nutcrackers were part of a community-funded Christmas display, with one gifted by a resident using their inheritance.
Church pastor Jo Thorne expressed devastation, calling the act an assault on the magic of Christmas and noting the church's inability to afford replacements. The stolen nutcrackers were intended to welcome children to the Santa's Grotto as part of the Alive Christmas Experience planned for December 21. The display, built by volunteers over two weeks, was meant to be a reusable annual feature. The anonymous donor of the nutcrackers also conveyed sadness over the disregard for decency shown by the thieves.
The theft comes as the church prepares for its annual Christmas Toy Appeal, which supports local children. Separately, two Christmas trees decorated by schoolchildren were vandalized in Norwich the same weekend. The article also mentions a similar incident in Edinburgh where an electric bike rider stole a lifesize nutcracker, costing a local business nearly £1,000.