Vacationers have been caught smuggling all types of stolen souvenirs house from holidays, from artefacts picked up in Pompeii to sand from Italy’s well-known pink seaside on the island of Sardinia.
The Belgian metropolis of Bruges is the most recent sufferer of memento crime, however the merchandise guests have taken a flowery to is surprising.
The town council has reported the theft of dozens of cobblestones from the town centre, and suspects vacationers are the culprits.
Vacationers suspected of pilfering Bruges’ cobblestones
Bruges’ cobblestones are more and more being pilfered from well-known spots within the UNESCO-designated historic centre, public property councillor Franky Demon reported this week.
“At iconic areas akin to Minnewater, Vismarkt, Markt and Gruuthusemuseum, it’s estimated that fifty to 70 items of cobblestone disappear each month. And that quantity could possibly be even larger,” Demon informed press.
“The phenomenon will increase considerably, particularly throughout busy vacationer durations akin to spring and summer time,” he added.
For that reason, authorities suspect guests are pocketing the stone as souvenirs.
‘Go away that cobblestone the place it belongs’
In addition to damaging a precious a part of the town’s heritage, the stolen stones have created issues of safety.
The gaps from eliminated stones current journey hazards for pedestrians – and are expensive to restore.
“It’s unlucky that our staff consistently must exit to repair potholes and unfastened stones. This causes numerous extra work and prices: about 200 euros per sq. metre of reconstruction,” defined Demon.
The councillor urged guests to respect the historic setting of Bruges.
“We merely ask for respect. Anybody strolling by way of Bruges crosses centuries of historical past. Go away that cobblestone the place it belongs,” he mentioned.
Bruges’ cobblestones are apparently not the one sought-after road memento.
Alongside the well-known Paris-Roubaix biking route, vacationers are identified to pilfer components of the pavement.
Whereas Rome’s iconic ‘sampietrini’ – cobblestones fabricated from solidified lava – have additionally disappeared into suitcases through the years.