Appeal for information after 2017 Melbourne Cup stolen from Houdini’s cafe in Victoria
The prestigious trophy, loved by people passing through Melbourne’s northwest, was snatched between Sunday night and Monday morning.
The 2017 Melbourne Cup has been stolen from a cafe with the owners desperate to get the prized trophy “back to its rightful owner”.
Houdini’s Cafe e Cucina in Diggers Rest, in the Victorian capital’s northwest, made the announcement on its Facebook page yesterday.
“Unfortunately early Monday morning the 2017 Melbourne Cup was stolen,” the post reads.
“We appreciate any information of its whereabouts or if anyone has seen or heard anything to contact us.”
The post has been shared hundreds of times.
Cafe-goers have expressed their disappointment.
“What low life steels something so precious?” Sheree Atherton asked.
Michelle Pentony said: “That’s so sad. I loved having my photo taken there with that gorgeous cup.”
The quaint cafe and restaurant, situated next to a railway crossing, was broken into between 11.30pm on Sunday and 10.30am on Monday.
“Police have been told unknown offenders forced entry to the cafe,” Victoria Police said in a statement today.
“Once inside, the offenders ransacked the premises and stole the cash register, cash and the 2017 Melbourne Cup.”
Rekindling won the Melbourne Cup in 2017 with jockey Corey Brown.
Johannes Vermeer ridden by Ben Melham came second and Max Dynamite was third, ridden by Zac Purton.
Rekindling’s part-owner, Mark Ruff, told the Herald Sun it was a replica cup because there were a number of owners. High-profile horse racing owner Lloyd Williams has the original.
Mr Ruff, a Diggers Rest local, said he’d told the cafe’s owner, Frank Labombarda, it would be a great place to have the cup displayed and it had been there ever since.
Mr Ruff told 3AW it had been “a good thing for a lot of local people” to get a photo taken with it, and they’d rather it there than sitting in their lounge room.
RELATED: Lloyd Williams on Rekindling victory
RELATED: Rekindling wins the 2017 Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne cafe is named after US magician and escapologist Harry Houdini, who made aviation history in Diggers Rest.
“He’s popularly seen as setting the record for Australia’s first manned flight, but history now grants this laurel to Colin Defries, who took to the skies in December 1909,” according to the State Library of Victoria.
Melton Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating and are keen to speak to any witnesses or anyone that may have seen any suspicious activity in the area.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
— with AAP
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