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Attempt to steal giant bus stop crown thwarted

Jacob EvansBBC News
  • Two people tried to steal a giant commemorative crown in central London
  • The item was one of three 2m-tall crowns installed on bus stops in Oxford Street for the Coronation
  • The would-be thieves were stopped by security guards and fled empty-handed
  • The crown was damaged after it fell on the road but has been re-installed
News imageGetty Images Large crown on top of oxford street bus stationGetty Images
The crowns are giant replicas of St Edward's Crown, the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels

Security guards thwarted an attempt to steal a commemorative crown from a central London bus stop just a day after it was unveiled.

Two people clambered on top of the bus stop in the early hours of Wednesday morning to try and steal the 2m (6.5ft) tall object, but were spotted by two guards.

They fled the scene empty-handed but the crown fell to the floor and was damaged.

It has now been re-installed.

News imageGetty Images Close up of the crownGetty Images
The New West End Company funded the installation of the crowns in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL)

Large crowns have been placed on top of three bus stops along Oxford Street in celebration of the upcoming coronation of King Charles III.

They have been funded by the New West End Company (NWEC) in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL).

NWEC, whose guards thwarted the plot, said it believed the would-be thieves had hoped to gain "social media notoriety" by taking the crown.

The new additions on the famous shopping street have gained mixed reactions from the public.

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They form part of a wide-ranging set of celebrations by TfL.

At some Underground stations, the iconic TfL rounded logo has been redesigned with a crown, while five buses and 20 Santander cycles have also been given commemorative designs.

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