Two people have been arrested after a nutcracker statue was stolen from a business.
The five-feet-tall figure, which sings to children on their way home from school, was snatched from outside the front of Luke Allum Funeral Directors in Sheerness, Kent.
Owner Luke Allum said the nutcracker brings joy to children in the town.
âWe always try to do things for the town at this time of year with our Tree of Remembrance to honour loved ones and a remembrance post box for children to post Christmas letters and cards to loved ones in heaven,â Mr Allum said.
âThis year we decided to get a big nutcracker outside that sings to kids.
âWe put it on at about 3pm so it sings on their way home from school. They literally love it, it sings to them, they take pictures with it.â
But when Mr Allum and his colleagues were out at a funeral on Thursday afternoon, the figure was pinched from the porch of the business in Broadway in the port town.
He said he was left feeling confused after the theft.
âYou think, why have you stolen a nutcracker, out of everything?â Mr Allum said.
He reported the incident to police and shared it on social media, receiving dozens of messages of support from the community, who shared their upset at the news.
Mr Allum said he does not want money but would like to have the nutcracker returned.
âWe bought that in September, trying to get a nutcracker now is impossible.â
Kent Police are appealing for witnesses and said they hope to be able to return the nutcracker to Mr Allum.
âThe figure, which is approximately five feet tall and has a value of ÂŁ250, had stood in front of a funeral home to make visits more welcoming for bereaved people,â a spokesperson for Kent Police said.
Two men, a 59-year-old and a 39-year-old, from Sheerness, have been arrested in connection with the theft, officers said.
Anyone who may have relevant information or CCTV footage should contact Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting 46/208343/25.
