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follow him, he reappeared and Buggy told him to get back to the car. Soon after
Jackson jumped off the moving vehicle and ran away. Buggy pursued him first with a car and then on foot until he captured him in a house garden, revealed that he was a police officer and arrested him. Other officers came to escort Jackson to Kennington police station.
242:. If they followed the further instructions, they could get the trophy back by Friday, otherwise, or if the FA informed the police or the press, the thieves would melt the trophy down. Shortly afterwards Mears received another call – a man who identified himself as "Jackson" changed the instructions to £5 and £10 notes.
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district of southeast London, when
Pickles began to sniff at a parcel that was lying under the hedge of Corbett's house. It was wrapped in an old newspaper, tied with string. When he opened the parcel, he recognised the trophy when he noticed the winner's names on the bottom. He handed the parcel to
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On Sunday, 20 March, the guards began a noon circuit. Around 12:10 p.m., they noticed that someone had forced open the display case and the rear doors of the building and stolen the trophy. The wooden bar that held the door closed was lying on the floor; thieves had removed the screws and bolts that
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and gave the trophy lining and the letter to him. Police told Mears to place the ad on 24 March, and contacted a bank that created a false ransom payment out of bundles of ordinary paper, with real money only at the top and bottom, which were placed in a suitcase. Two police officers were to act as
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Buggy drove to the park, followed by a number of unmarked Flying Squad vehicles, and met "Jackson". Buggy showed him the suitcase and
Jackson failed to notice that most of the money was scrap paper. Buggy insisted on seeing the trophy before handing over the money and said he feared that somebody
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On the way
Jackson noticed the Flying Squad van that followed them and got nervous. At a traffic light in Kennington Park Road, he told Buggy to stop and said he was going to get the trophy. When he walked away, the van stopped Jackson and he disappeared around the corner. When Buggy intended to
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and opened on 19 March 1966, and the World Cup was a major attraction. Two uniformed officers guarded the trophy around the clock, reinforced by two plainclothes officers during the day. Additional guards stood beside the display cabinet when the exhibition was open, but nobody was watching the
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Pickles briefly became a celebrity, and appeared on TV and in some movies. David
Corbett attended the players' celebration dinner after the World Cup Final, and later received rewards totaling £6,000. The Football Association made a replica of the trophy for public celebrations.
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from the back of the display case, taken the trophy and left the way they came. None of the guards had seen or heard anything suspicious, though one of them reported that he had seen a strange man by the public telephone when he had visited the lavatory on the first floor.
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the next day. The parcel was delivered to Mears' home. It contained the removable lining from the top of the trophy and a ransom note that demanded £15,000 in £1 and £5 notes. The letter stated that the FA should place a coded ad in the personal Ads column of
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Mears was suffering from an asthma attack so his wife answered instead and gave the phone to the "assistant McPhee" (who was DI Buggy). "Jackson" was nervous but finally agreed to arrange a switch and told "McPhee" to come to
290:. Betchley claimed that someone he knew only as "The Pole" had offered him £500 to act as a middleman. Mrs Coombes, who had seen a strange man in the Central Hall, identified him but the security guard did not recognise him.
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In 2018, criminal investigative journalist Tom
Pettifor identified the Jules Rimet Trophy thief as being Sidney Cugullere. Pettifor also revealed the sources of his investigations in a seven part 2020 podcast series called
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who was later commended and gained a cult following for his heroism. One man was convicted for being involved but other possible culprits are still unidentified. The trophy was eventually won by the host nation
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Police announced the recovery of the trophy the next morning but retained the Cup as evidence until 18 April. They returned it to the FA before the opening of the tournament.
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exhibition in March on condition that it would be under guard at all times. The trophy was also insured for £30,000 (despite its official value being only £3,000).
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police station where Harold Mayes of the FA identified the trophy. Police briefly suspected that
Corbett was involved with the theft but he had an
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At the station police recognised that "Jackson" was Edward
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trophy in
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/20/newsid_2861000/2861545.stm%7Ctitle=1966
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Edward
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Despite the warnings, Mears contacted the police, met Detective Inspector Charles Buggy of the
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would try to rob him. Jackson stepped into Buggy's car and agreed to lead him to the trophy.
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Mears' assistants in handing the money over and went to his home to wait for the next call.
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trophy all the time. On Sundays the Central Hall was used for Methodist services.
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The Theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy: The Hidden History of the 1966 World Cup
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The theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy has been interpreted in the game
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The Queen presents the Jules Rimet trophy to England winning captain
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stamp company received permission to place the Trophy in their
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held it from the other side of the door. They had removed the
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apart from for a couple of publicity events. In February,
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in England. The trophy was later recovered by a dog named
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376:Short Trip "This Sporting Life", an audio story by
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16:1966 theft of trophy for the FIFA World Cup
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111:Learn how and when to remove this message
357:In literature, media and popular culture
722:March 1966 events in the United Kingdom
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298:On 27 March, David Corbett and his dog
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60:"1966 theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy"
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339:concurrent sentences
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227:On Monday 21 March,
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