Etrog. Photo: wiki commons.

A 23 year old Iranian man admitted to stealing an etrog from a specialty Sukkot store, after being arrested by police in Northwest London.

Ali Kerman-Shali placed the yellow fruit used during the holiday of Sukkot in his pocket and left a store in Golders Green.  The fruit was valued at over $100 and according to the Jewish Chronicle, Kerman-Shali “immediately admitted the theft when arrested in the early hours of last Friday morning. He had only two pence and could not afford to buy the etrog.”

The 23 year old told police he thought the fruit “smelled nice” and wanted to eat it.  Fines were paid to a local court and the store where the theft took place.