Nearly 25 years ago, a gold-plated weathercock disappeared from the village of Bessan in southwestern France – now a remorseful thief has returned the iron weathercock by mail, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The Florensac gendarmerie identified the thief who removed the gilded iron cock from a cross on April 1, 1999, said Raphaël Balland, the Béziers prosecutor. However, he can no longer face criminal charges because his criminal offense has expired. The Public Prosecution Service therefore closed the procedure.
Theft after a pleasant evening
It concerns a man born in 1975 who confessed to the theft, which was committed in jest on a drunken evening. After that, he was afraid to return it until he recently discovered the item in a hiding place in his basement, the prosecutor said, without revealing the identity of the perpetrator.
The weathercock reappeared at the end of November – in a postal package marked “Monsieur Gallinacé” (in German: Mr. Huhn), which was delivered to local historian Michel Sabatéry.
The man gave away the credit card
After receiving the package, Sabatéry “had the kindness” to inform the municipality, which in turn contacted the public prosecutor’s office, according to Bessan mayor Stéphane Pépin-Bonet. They immediately started an investigation, which allowed the sender to be identified. The weathercock was posted at a post office in the same department and postage was paid by credit card.
The rooster will soon take his old place on the cross again. According to Mayor Pépin-Bonet, this time it must be “properly secured so that it does not fly away again.” “Maybe it’s just a matter of youthful stupidity and the story ends well,” he said. Nevertheless, at the small ceremony marking the return of the weathercock, he will emphasize “that these types of objects are part of the heritage of this village.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
