Case closed! “Bittersweet” moment as man admits Rice Bowl theft

Friday 07 July 2023

The culprit behind the theft of £2,000-worth of decking from the Rice Bowl has handed himself, and the materials, in after a huge social media appeal… but the moment was “bittersweet” for the family behind the popular Chinese restaurant.

The Chinese restaurant was founded by Ken Yu around 40 years ago, and his daughter, architect and co-owner of St. Helier’s Awabi with her brother Stephen, had drawn up plans to renovate it.

After the decking, which was due to be used in a refurbishment, went missing, the family launched an appeal for help finding the culprit via Awabi's large social following – and the response was "incredible", according to Hayley.

As well as an appeal for information, the team later shared a CCTV image of the white Ford transit van they believed to have been involved.

Pictured: Awabi co-founders Hayley and Stephen Yu used their restaurant's following to help catch the Rice Bowl culprit.

Last night, the brother-and-sister duo shared via Awabi's social media accounts that the culprit had been identified – but the moment had not been as expected.

"Yesterday evening, a white Ford Transit was caught slinging timber into the Rice Bowl car park. It leaves, before returning later with the rest. A quick phone call later, the van is blocked in and confronted. It was him," a post paying tribute to the community's help read.

"Our beloved timber is back - albeit damaged and worthless - and it's all thanks to you absolute G's! Shout out everyone who shared our post, who dobbed in their innocent neighbours, and started on random white van men.

 

 

 

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However, the post continued: "But, it's a bittersweet moment. Peel back the stripey top, black mask and swag bag, and behind every crim is a human - and this one was visibly upset and desperate.

"Dad is most likely going to drop the charges (we wish he was this lenient with us) but Jersey's most wanted man will be feeling the full weight of the law so let's allow this to run it's course.

"I know we're all baying for blood - but with this island being small as it is we don't feel the need to name and shame them and we hope you feel the same. So no smear campaigns, and definitely no being dragged down King Street naked and pelted with rotten fruit please."

They went on to request that no one share images of the culprit.

The team have since been praised for their handling of the situation, including by others in the hospitality community.

The Moorings' Matt Jones commented: "Great news it's resolved guys (in some ways) and a hugely compassionate way you have gone about it. Speaks volumes about how you live your lives and do business!"

Chef David Cameron wrote: "Forgiving is the most noble way... as this will be rewarded in the long term, don't know who said that but life goes on now that you are back on track."

Others made more humorous comments about the saga, with food reviewer 'Meiks' Gastro Guide' saying: "The docuseries on this is going to be more eagerly anticipated than the one on OceanGate."

Some – including the Awabi team – played along with a joke that this had all been a secret marketing ploy for the new Rice Bowl restaurant, which now has it's own Instagram page – and a following of more than 500 people already.