STICKY FINGERS

Chocolate Heist Leaves Stores Scrambling Before the Holidays

The company said thieves may have taken ‘have a break, have a Kit Kat’ a little too seriously.

Thieves made off with more than 12 tons of KitKat bars in a chocolate heist that has left Nestlé scrambling to track the missing shipment from the sticky-handed burglars. The candy giant told Agence France-Presse on Saturday that the haul “remains unaccounted for” after it was stolen last week while in transit between production and distribution sites in Europe. The timing couldn’t be worse. With Easter looming—a peak season for chocolate sales—the company warned the theft could disrupt supply and leave some shelves short of the popular wafer bars. A spokesperson tried to keep things light, joking that the culprits may have taken the brand’s famous slogan—“Have a break, have a KitKat”—a little too seriously. Still, Nestlé said it isn’t giving up the chase. The company noted that its products carry unique barcodes that can help trace the shipment if the stolen goods resurface on European markets. Investigators are also working with local law enforcement as the search continues.