Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 5 March (Europa Press) –
Agents from the Civil Guard’s Roca team, which focuses on the prevention and investigation of agricultural and livestock thefts, have resolved 22 cases of robbery and theft occurring across various farms in the northern regions of Tenerife.
The incidents took place between September and February of this year, during which the accused, local residents, typically accessed the farms during daylight by jumping over or damaging the perimeter fencing. They managed to steal 2,800 kilos of avocados, 30 kilos of potatoes, and 10 kilos of chestnuts, along with various corrugated metal sheets used for supporting vineyards.
All the stolen goods were transported in sacks that were loaded into the vehicles they used for their movements.
It turned out that the suspects were local individuals who meticulously planned their attacks on the different farms, as they were well-acquainted with the area and had constant knowledge of the movements of the owners and staff, according to a statement from the Civil Guard.
Two of the alleged perpetrators were hunters who, leveraging their occupation, were able to ascertain that no one was present on the farm at the time the crimes were committed.
The stolen avocados were quickly put up for sale, both in the local neighbourhood streets and in certain fruit shops, prompting the Roca team to intervene and prevent their sale after identifying and confirming their illicit origin.
These inquiries form part of ‘Operation Hass I’, during which a total of 16 individuals – 14 men and 2 women, aged between 21 and 49 – have been investigated. They are residents of La Laguna, Tacoronte, Tegueste, La Victoria, La Orotava, and Icod de los Vinos, as alleged perpetrators of various crimes against property and the socioeconomic order.
The investigative files have been forwarded to the appropriate court of instruction.
