HBO's Harry Potter Set Increases Security After Criminal Threat Revealed

Hogwarts is experiencing a crime wave as filming on the Harry Potter show continues.

Based on the book series by author J.K. Rowling, HBO’s highly anticipated upcoming TV series hails from creator Francesca Gardiner. Filming on the Harry Potter TV show began last July and continues at Leavesden Studios in the UK, and though an initial trailer hyped a magical return to Hogwarts this Christmas, production hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing.

A new report from the Daily Mail claims that there have been a number of instances of theft on the Harry Potter show’s Hogwarts set. Pumpkins, spell books, wands, and fake blood are among the items that have gone missing, with the incident occurring during the filming of the Halloween feast scene in the Hogwarts Great Hall.

As a security measure, props like wands and broomsticks have now been microchipped, and posters placed around the Warner Bros. UK studio warn against theft. One such poster is made to look right at home in the Harry Potter universe in terms of its font and presentation, including an image of a tagged broomstick, and it features the following notice:

“Props on this production have been microchipped. For inventory and security purposes props are being tracked daily and movement of props will be logged. If you need to take any prop off-set or away from its designated area, please seek approval from the Props Department first. If you notice any lost/misplaced items or anything out of place, please report it to the Props team so they can continue looking.”

Though the poster gets creative in its warning against theft, executives are said to be taking the matter very seriously. The report notes that studio bosses have informed cast and crew that anyone caught stealing will be escorted off set due to breach of contract.

One Daily Mail source shared more information on the response to the thefts, stressing that background actors aren’t the only ones being watched closely. “It’s easy to suspect the dozens of support actors on set, but truthfully no one knows who is responsible,” they said. Security measures also won’t stop at set boundaries. “Production bosses said they will be scouring eBay to make sure nothing is found for sale online,” the source continues. “Anyone caught doing so will be punished and fired.”

The theft of props and set decoration items isn’t the first hiccup to hit the Harry Potter TV show. Earlier this year, overhead shots of the show’s sets, including Hagrid’s hut, Privet Drive, Diagon Alley, and Gringotts Wizarading Bank, made their way onto Apple Maps. The Apple Maps update is said to have left the show’s bosses fuming, as the production had gone to great lengths to maintain secrecy.

Despite reported anger from the show’s higher-ups, anticipation for the series remains high, and it’s likely to be a major performer for HBO. It was just recently confirmed that Harry Potter season 2 is a go, with filming expected to get underway later this year.

Each season of the show will adapt one of Rowling’s books, with the eight-episode season 1 tackling Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and season 2 adapting The Chamber of Secrets. The cast for the Harry Potter show includes Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton as Harry, Ron, and Hermione, respectively.

The props theft speaks to the excitement surrounding the show from all involved, with cast and/ or crew evidently hoping to take home what is sure to be a piece of history. It remains to be seen whether the Harry Potter series will live up the hype, but HBO is clearly betting big on the Wizarding World.