Golden Ornamental Cockerel Stolen 25 Years Ago Returned to French Village
In a surprising turn of events, a golden ornamental cockerel that was stolen nearly 25 years ago has been returned to its rightful place in a small French village. The iron-wrought painted cockerel was taken from the top of an outdoor Catholic cross in Bessan back in April 1999, leaving locals puzzled about its whereabouts until recently.
The mysterious return of the stolen cockerel came about when it was sent in a parcel to historian Michel Sabatery. Sabatery, who had kept the mystery alive by writing about it in newspapers and on social media, promptly informed the mayor’s office upon receiving the long-lost statue in November. The news quickly spread throughout the village, rekindling memories of the unsolved theft from decades ago.
Thanks to a stroke of luck, the police were able to quickly identify the remorseful thief. It turned out that the thief had used his own credit card to pay for the postage on the parcel containing the cockerel. Although initially motivated by curiosity and the desire to uncover the truth about the stolen artwork, the thief ultimately confessed to his crime. He revealed that he had taken the cockerel during a drunken party but had hidden it in his basement out of shame.
The man, now in his late 40s, recently stumbled upon the stolen cockerel in his cellar and decided it was time to make amends. Feeling remorseful, he returned the weathervane to its rightful place, where it will be securely fixed to the iron mission cross in a ceremony.
Despite the illegal act, the mayor of Bessan is willing to forgive the thief, considering it a possible youthful indiscretion. However, he plans to use this incident as an opportunity to remind the community about the importance of preserving their heritage. The stolen cockerel serves as a reminder that the village’s historical and cultural artifacts deserve respect and protection.
Interestingly, the identity of the thief will remain undisclosed, as they are protected from prosecution due to France’s statute of limitations on petty theft, which is six years. This provision ensures that the thief can now move forward and learn from this experience without facing legal consequences.
The return of the ornamental cockerel brings closure to a long-standing mystery and serves as a reminder for the village of Bessan to cherish and safeguard their historical treasures. It is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of community preservation.
“Infuriatingly humble tv expert. Friendly student. Travel fanatic. Bacon fan. Unable to type with boxing gloves on.”