BATH, ENGLAND — LoveHoney has long been an innovator in the world of online and storefront sex toy retailing. Among its cutting edge, socially responsible inventions is the development of a sex toy recycling policy. Although the London-based company took into consideration a wide variety of factors when it began offering its Rabbit Amnesty program, which allows toy owners to return those that have worn out for recycling, it never gave much thought to the possibility that they might be stolen.Yet that is precisely what the police force in Bath is investigating.

Six large cardboard boxes of well-loved intimacy toys on their way to the reclamation center were lifted from outside of the Locksbrook Road shop. The boxes are estimated to contain more than $1,100 worth of cleaned but unpackaged merchandise on its way to be recycled.

Bonny Hall, head buyer for the shop, cautions sex toy lovers offered a great deal on toys to be careful. “If people are offered sex toys for sale that aren’t in boxes, they should refuse them,” she urges.

“The toys are all clean,” she assures, “but were designated for recycling, certainly not for reuse.”

So far, LoveHoney has turned over at least five tons of toys for recycling since Rabbit Amnesty went into effect during August of 2007.

Those who turn in toys for recycling are eligible for a new, half-price model as incentive – and LoveHoney donates the equivalent of $1.50 to the World Land Trust, which works to save rainforest and other wildlife habitats.