There are an increasing amount of thefts from orchards in France. Though such thefts have always existed, they are reaching a worrying level as organised gangs are stealing tons of fruit.
Fruit producer, Louis, has had 7 tons of apples stolen in one year. The thieves come “during the day and the night” according to Louis, and they take hundreds of kilos of apples. Last time they picked four 50 metre rows.
They also steal his wooden crates which can take up to 300kg of apples.
Louis has already surprised the thieves whilst they were stealing from his orchard, and it is not rare that he calls the police. According to the police the producers rarely file a complaint. But Louis calls upon his colleagues, “if lots of complaints are filed, the politicians will have to do something and give the funds to the police to stop this organised crime.”