British actor Bradley Riches, known for his roles in the popular Netflix series Heartstopper and ITV soap Emmerdale, revealed he was burgled and had his car and coffee truck stolen while attending the premiere of the new Heartstopper film. Riches shared his distress in an emotional selfie posted to Instagram, stating he was "absolutely heartbroken" by the incident.
The theft occurred on Thursday, 17 July, as Riches was at the premiere of Heartstopper Forever, the new film that serves as a finale to the hit coming-of-age series. Upon returning home, he discovered his house had been burgled and his vehicles were missing. "This week started so perfectly," he wrote, "only to come home and find out I’d been robbed. My car is gone, but what breaks my heart the most is that my coffee truck has been taken too."
Riches had launched 'Bradley’s Bar & Cafe' in May, a joint venture with his husband Scott Johnson-Riches. The couple operated the coffee truck every Saturday from the New Inn Eccup, a pub located near the set of Emmerdale. The business's Instagram page has since been updated to reflect the truck's status as "currently stolen," and a detailed appeal for information has been posted.
The actor, who also plays Lewis Barton in Emmerdale, confirmed that the police are investigating the theft. He urged anyone in the Leeds and Bradford area to keep an eye out for the stolen vehicles, emphasising that even the smallest piece of information could be crucial. Riches, 24, has gained recognition for his acting and for his advocacy around neurodivergence, having published two books on the subject, including 2023's children's book "A" Different Kind Of Superpower and this year's Autistically Me: How to Understand and Celebrate Our Unique Minds.
Heartstopper Forever launched globally on Netflix today, 18 July 2026. The film concludes the beloved series which stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke. Riches' character, James, is a lovestruck teenager in the series. The incident has cast a shadow over what should have been a celebratory moment for the actor, highlighting the devastating impact of such crimes on individuals and their livelihoods.