Oliver serves up reward after theft

Oliver's website appeals to visitors to: "Catch that geeza"

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has put up a £20,000 reward after a thief walked off with a week's takings from his mentor's restaurant.

A man walked into Passione on Charlotte Street, central London at 2230 BST on 21 September and stole a 45 lb safe containing the takings.

Passione is run by Genaro D'Urso and the Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo, who gave a young Oliver a job and became his mentor and "best mate".

Oliver appealed to visitors to his website to help "catch that geeza" - who is described as having "a face like a bulldog".

He said he was really upset because both D'Urso and Contaldo had been "an absolute inspiration" to him and students at his restaurant Fifteen, in the City of London.

Walk-in theft

He wrote: "Most of you won't know who this person could be but with thousands of people from that part of London that come to the website every day, if you can prove who this geeza (is) and he is prosecuted, you'll get a cheque for £20,000."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the man had walked into the premises and "stolen what has been described as a small safe."

Although Oliver's website reports Mr Contaldo was threatened with a knife, Scotland Yard said they had not received reports the thief was armed.

They are treating the case as a "walk-in theft".

The suspect is described as white, about 35 years old, 6ft 4in, with dark brown short hair and a cockney accent.