The Sun, citing production sources, reports that props have started disappearing from the set of the "Harry Potter" series. Among the stolen items are wands, brooms, spellbooks, pumpkins, artificial blood, and food used for the Halloween feast scene in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
The situation became serious enough for the studio to start embedding microchips in the props for tracking. Items are now checked daily, and any movement must be approved by the props department. Warnings have appeared on the studio lot in Leavesden for the crew and extras. They state that removing props without permission could result in dismissal and removal from the set.
Management is also checking online platforms like eBay to track the possible sale of stolen items, but it has not yet been possible to identify who took the props.
The situation looks particularly anecdotal against the backdrop of Tom Felton's recent joke. The actor, who played Draco Malfoy in the original films, previously said that he contacted the new actor for the role, Loax Pratt, and advised him to "steal as many props as possible" because one day they would be worth a fortune.