Tropical fruit thieves target Qld farms ahead of Xmas

Farmers are grappling with a surge in thefts of prized produce that was destined for many families’ Christmas platters.

FRUIT rustlers have been busted poaching prized lychees after a string of raids on fruit popular on the Christmas platter.

Farmers and rural crime detectives say mostly opportunistic thieves have targeted tropical fruit like melons, pineapples, mangoes, lychees and limes.

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But criminal syndicates have also reportedly used trucks and teams of pickers to raid farms, at harvest time, and when prices are high.

Lychees are today at record-high prices, selling for $19.90 a kg, at city supermarkets.

“That’s why people are pinching them,’’ Mareeba grower Mal Everett said.

“Popular varieties are selling at the fruit markets for $100 a box, where normally they’d go for $28 or $30.”

The sweet, juicy festive red fruit is at top dollar because of short supply due to frost, bad weather and a late season.

Mr Everett said every year his Burdekin mango farm was raided by fruit poachers in commercial-scale thefts.

“They’d turn up with trucks and clean out half an orchard of mangoes overnight,’’ he said.

“Unless you catch them in the act, it’s hard to prove.’’

Mareeba lychee farmer Mal Everett picking fruit on the farm. Picture: Anna Rogers

Police have charged a young Kuranda pair with alleged crop theft after a farmer spotted them on a lychee farm at Mareeba.

It is alleged the man, 24, and woman, 25, accessed the property not visible from the road and picked several plastic bags full of fruit.

“Theft is theft,’’ said Detective Sergeant Mark Kerswell, of the Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural).

“Farmers often don’t know what to do about it, but it doesn’t matter if it is a house block, fruit orchard or million dollar cattle station.

“We take trespass and theft from farms very seriously.”

Sgt Kerswell said the latest case was not the biggest stealing complaint they’d dealt with but it did highlight a concern.

“Every year we receive complaints about people out stealing lychees, mangoes; and limes is a big one.

Mal Everett sorts lychees with wife Jan. Picture: Anna Rogers

“Limes are worth good money and there’s been a number of lime plantation robbed in recent years.

“We’ve had large-scale lime thefts in previous seasons, where thieves have stolen ute loads full of fruit.

“The farmer is fighting drought and feral pigs, pests and native animals that come in and attack his plants. Now they have to deal with people who come in and steal his crop.”

Mareeba Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association president Joe Moro said there has been rising levels of crime on rural blocks.

“That’s the reason there’s not many honesty boxes left,’’ he said.

“If it’s not bolted to the ground, it gets taken,’’ he said.

“Thieves not only take the fruit but also the money in the honesty box.”

Farmers put a lot of work into delivering produce to market and wanted suitable punishment for offender, he said.

“No-one likes their property being stolen.”

The Kuranda duo charged with alleged crop theft are expected to appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on February 10, 2020.

Ends.