Bruges begs tourists to stop stealing its historic cobblestones
Tourists have been caught smuggling all kinds of stolen souvenirs home from holidays, from artefacts picked up in Pompeii to sand from Italy's famous pink beach on the island of Sardinia.
The Belgian city of Bruges is the latest victim of keepsake crime, but the item visitors have taken a fancy to is unexpected.
The city council has reported the theft of dozens of cobblestones from the city centre, and suspects tourists are the culprits.
Bruges' cobblestones are increasingly being pilfered from well-known spots in the UNESCO-designated historic centre, public property councillor Franky Demon reported this week.
'At iconic locations such as Minnewater, Vismarkt, Markt and Gruuthusemuseum, it is estimated that 50 to 70 pieces of cobblestone disappear every month. And that number could be even higher,' Demon told press.
'The phenomenon increases significantly, especially during busy tourist periods such as spring and summer,' he added.
For this reason, authorities suspect visitors are pocketing the stone as souvenirs.
As well as damaging a valuable part of the city's heritage, the stolen stones have created safety issues.
The gaps from removed stones present trip hazards for pedestrians - and are costly to repair.
'It's unfortunate that our employees constantly have to go out to fix potholes and loose stones. This causes a lot of additional work and costs: about 200 euros per square metre of reconstruction,' explained Demon.
The councillor urged visitors to respect the historical environment of Bruges.
'We simply ask for respect. Anyone walking through Bruges crosses centuries of history. Leave that cobblestone where it belongs,' he said.
Bruges' cobblestones are apparently not the only sought-after street souvenir.
Along the famous Paris-Roubaix cycling route, tourists are known to pilfer parts of the pavement.
While Rome's iconic 'sampietrini' - cobblestones made of solidified lava - have also disappeared into suitcases over the years.
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