Arrests after avocados tip-off

Photo / John Stone

Two Northland men allegedly selling stolen avocados at an Auckland market have been arrested and hundreds more fruit have been discovered in a police raid on two Whangarei homes.

The news has delighted Northland avocado growers but industry leaders are reminding growers to remain vigilant and take extra security precautions on orchards as fruit picking starts.

The pair, aged 18 and 41, made a brief appearance in Whangarei court over the weekend and were remanded in custody until today where they would both face a charge of burglary.

The arrests came after police received a tip-off from an observant market-goer who became suspicious of them selling the fruit from a car boot at Auckland's Avondale Sunday Market after reading about the burglaries in the media.

The charge relates to an alleged burglary at an orchard on the night of August 28.

Police carried out searches of two Raumanga houses and found about 400 stolen avocados in a garage.

Former NZ avocado grower representative Mike Eagles said he had established a rural neighbourhood watch group over the past few months and growers had been handing over information about thefts and suspicious vehicles to police.

He said about eight orchards had fruit stolen in the raids and some had even been hit four times.

"Some considerable amounts have been stolen so most people are pretty happy to hear about the arrests," Mr Eagles said.

However, he would not be surprised if there were more people involved in the Northland orchard thefts.

"It seems so well organised and the thefts are been done on a very regular basis so there is a market out there for them. They are taking 400 to 500 avocados a night."

Mr Eagles said growers needed to padlock gates and any suspicious vehicles should be reported to police.