By Tim Binnall
An equestrian statue of Joan of Arc located in Paris is minus its sword after a misguided man brazenly stole the weapon in broad daylight. According to a local media report, the strange incident occurred on Friday morning in the French capital city when the unnamed suspect clambered onto the 130-year-old piece to the astonishment of onlookers. An official, who later watched security footage of the odd heist, recounted how "you see the man violently shaking the horse, before climbing the statue and breaking the sword" in one fell swoop.
The sticky-fingered ne'er-do-well subsequently fled the scene down a side street with the pilfered weapon in tow until he was stopped by police who took notice of the sword-wielding man. The suspect was then arrested, with authorities indicating he will undergo a mental health review following the unfathomable caper. As for the sword, officials plan to assess the remnants of the weapon, which was damaged in the chaotic scene, to determine if it can be repaired or if it needs to be completely replaced.