Fury in beautiful little European city as tourists told 'leave them where they belong'

hotspots across Europe have become victims of crimes from unruly tourists. Artefacts have been smuggled from Pompeii, while the sand from have been bottled up and taken home.

Now, the city of Bruges has become the latest target of the crime, with an unusual item added to the list of stolen items. The city council has reported the theft of dozens of cobblestones from the city centre, suspecting that tourists are the offenders. According to public property councillor Franky Demon, the cobblestones are increasingly being nicked from well-known spots in the historic centre, which boasts status.

"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," Mr Demon said.

"The phenomenon increases significantly, especially during busy tourist periods such as spring and summer."

As a result, authorities suspect that visitors are to blame.

In addition to damaging the heritage, the stones have also created safety concerns. The gaps left by the removed stones are trip hazards for pedestrians and expensive 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," added Mr Demon.

The councillor urged visitors to respect Bruges's historical environment: "We simply ask for respect. Anyone walking through Bruges crosses centuries of history. Leave that cobblestone where it belongs."

In 2020, a Canadian woman sent a package containing two mosaic tiles, parts of an amphora and and a piece of ceramic that she had stolen from Pompeii 15 years previously to a travel agent. In a letter of confession, the woman, identified only as Nicole, said she was , having had breast cancer twice and experienced financial hardship.

"We took them without thinking of the pain and suffering these poor souls experienced during the eruption of Vesuvius and their terrible death," they wrote. "We are sorry, please forgive us for making this terrible choice. May their souls rest in peace."

In 2015, a brick taken from the ruins of in 1958 was put up for sale on eBay.