Thieves Keep Stealing Copenhagen's Classic Benches

Some people are so obsessed with Scandinavian design that they’d be prepared to beg, borrow, or steal to get their hands on whatever the latest coveted item is. In Copenhagen, someone seems to be doing just that. Across the Danish capital, thieves are targeting a local design icon—the classic Copenhagen bench. First introduced in the 1880s, the benches are one of those visual clues that Danish people instantly associate with Copenhagen, like the Wallace Fountains of Paris or the now defunct red telephone boxes of London.

Now they’re being wrenched from the streets at an alarming rate. So far in 2017, 45 benches have already been stolen, with at least two other attempts. Someone even removed the boards from one while leaving the frame, possibly to get replacement wood for a damaged bench already stolen.