SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 7 Aug. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A group of eight men, aged between 29 and 64, are currently under investigation by Civil Guard agents for their alleged involvement in over ten crimes related to property and socio-economic order. These incidents occurred on farms situated in Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Victoria, and La Matanza, where a total of more than 2,000 kilos of avocados were stolen.
The thefts took place between April and July, as part of the continuous efforts by specialized Civil Guard agents, specifically from the Roca Team, focusing on preventing and investigating theft and robbery on agricultural and livestock farms.
The investigation was initiated following complaints from avocado farm owners, which led to various tactics being deployed such as watchtowers, surveillance, and analysis of video footage. These efforts uncovered a pattern where one of the suspects consistently followed the same route.
Originating from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, this individual would drive to the farms to commit the theft, with other accomplices, known criminals from the northern region of the island, joining him on the operations.
The crimes, ongoing since February, were executed during daylight hours when the farm owners were at particular locations on their properties. The thieves managed to avoid detection by entering through alternate entrances, successfully making off with a total of 2,200 kilos of avocados. They would then transport the stolen produce in durable, high-capacity bags or backpacks, loading them into their designated vehicle.
Further investigations by the Roca Team revealed that the same group had also stolen 850 kilos of potatoes from nearby fields. Their knowledge of the owners’ routines, due to the proximity of the farms to the suspects’ residences, facilitated these additional thefts.
In the course of the investigations, information linked to the theft of agricultural equipment in 2022 was uncovered. The accused individuals allegedly broke into facilities, stole various tools including a tractor, a motor cultivator, brush cutters, a motor sprayer, and farming implements, valued at around 20,000 Euros. Fortunately, the stolen tractor and plough accessory were recovered and returned to the rightful owner after thorough verification.
The outcomes of the investigations have been passed on to the Court of First Instance in San Cristóbal de La Laguna and the Court of First Instance in La Orotava.
