A breakthrough has been made in the hunt for a gang who stole a £5million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace back in September 2019.
A file of evidence into the theft has been submitted by police to the Crown Prosecution Service, according to national reports.
The 18-carat gold toilet was part of an exhibition at the palace near Woodstock by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
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But it was stolen in an early morning raid on September 14, nearly four years ago.
Seven suspects were arrested at the time, but no one was formally charged in connection with the theft.
These included a 37-year-old man from London who was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and a 36-year-old man from Cheltenham who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle.
A 68-year-old man from Evesham and a 45-year-old man from Kent were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
A 38-year-old woman, a 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man, all from Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit a burglary other than a dwelling.
It will now be the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to determine if charges will be brought.
A CPS spokesman said: “We have received a full file of evidence from Thames Valley Police following an investigation in relation to this case and are considering the material in line with our legal test.”
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police added: “A number of individuals remain released under investigation in relation to this case.
“A file of evidence is with the CPS for a decision to be made on any charges.”
The stolen toilet, entitled 'America' and worth £4.8million, has never been found.
It was displayed previously at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and could be used as a functioning toilet.
In 2016, 100,000 people queued to use it but a three-minute time limit was imposed to limit waiting times.
At the time of the theft, the golden toilet had only been on display in Blenheim Palace for two days.
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It was located opposite the room where wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill was born at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The toilet was plumbed in when it was stolen, and the heist therefore caused flooding damage to the UK’s only non-royal palace.
Only the flushing mechanism and loo roll were left behind by the thieves.
Back in 2019, Mr Cattelan said: “At first, when they woke me up with the news, I thought it was a prank.
“Who’s so stupid as to steal a toilet?”
A spokeswoman for Blenheim Palace said: “With regards to the theft of ‘America’ the golden lavatory in September 2019, this matter is currently under investigation by Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and as a result, we are unable to comment at this time.”
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