Tower of London - en.wikipedia.org The historic castle, Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, otherwise known as the Tower of London, is built on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. The river can cover the low-lying area outside the walls at high tide. Many overseas visitors are drawn to the area every year, but not all the tourists are there to gawk at the splendor.
Outside the walls of the Tower in front of Traitors' Gate, tourists were alarmed to see four men standing in the moat picking up the coins.
One man shouted at the thieves. The men looked up, apprehension in their eyes. They they took off at a run.
Outside the walls of the Tower in front of Traitors' Gate, tourists were alarmed to see four men standing in the moat picking up the coins.
One man shouted at the thieves. The men looked up, apprehension in their eyes. They they took off at a run.
Tower moat - geograph.org.uk But they didn't get far. Tower of London staff and army personnel detained them.
At the police station, questions revealed them to be homeless Romanians, who admitted to stealing £350 worth of coins.
Tourists visiting one of the most visited destinations in the world had thrown the money into the moat, and the donation was destined for the Royal British Legion.
I suppose the vagrants saw their chance. The coins lying on the soggy ground must have been too much of a temptation. But, however much they needed the money, taking something that didn't belong to them was theft.
On Tuesday last week, they were each given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay victim surcharges of £16, a very small amount for their misdemeanor.
At the police station, questions revealed them to be homeless Romanians, who admitted to stealing £350 worth of coins.
Tourists visiting one of the most visited destinations in the world had thrown the money into the moat, and the donation was destined for the Royal British Legion.
I suppose the vagrants saw their chance. The coins lying on the soggy ground must have been too much of a temptation. But, however much they needed the money, taking something that didn't belong to them was theft.
On Tuesday last week, they were each given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay victim surcharges of £16, a very small amount for their misdemeanor.
Beefeaters - geograph.org.uk The following Friday, police made a special visit to the famous London attraction to return the cash. Officers from Tower Hamlets returned the cash to a Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as a Beefeater. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners in the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right, a point the Yeomen Warders acknowledge.
See the full Telegraph story.
What happened to the Romanians? Nobody said. Did they deserve to be helped out of their homeless state? I don't believe an act of charity toward them would send the right message. What do you think?
See the full Telegraph story.
What happened to the Romanians? Nobody said. Did they deserve to be helped out of their homeless state? I don't believe an act of charity toward them would send the right message. What do you think?
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