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Maneki-neko figurines are popular in Japanese culture and are thought to bring good luck
Nearly 500 cat figurines have been stolen from a new Gordon Ramsay restaurant in one week at an estimated cost of more than £2,000, the TV chef has said.
The restaurateur recently launched Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay, in Bishopsgate in central London, featuring the beckoning Japanese cat models called maneki-neko.
The 58-year-old, known for his Hell's Kitchen and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares reality TV programmes, told ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show: "The cats are getting stolen. There were 477 stolen last week - they cost £4.50 each."
The City Of London Police said it has not received any reports of theft from the restaurant.
The number of cat figurine's stolen would amount to a loss of £2,146.50.
The maneki-neko figurines are believed by some within Japanese culture to bring good luck and have been a feature in the Lucky Cat restaurants.
The restaurant, which serves Asian-inspired cuisine, opened earlier this month in one of London's tallest buildings, skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate.
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The TV chef opened his fourth Lucky Cat restaurant in Bishopsgate earlier this month
Ramsay has two restaurants under the Lucky Cat brand within London, with the other being in Mayfair, opening in 2019.
The other two locations, according to its website, are in Manchester and Miami, Florida.
The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
