Thieves working in Las Vegas, a rural space close to Spain’s capital Madrid, managed to steal 17.5 tonnes of olives from native farms earlier than being busted, police mentioned Friday as they confirmed 16 arrests.
“The Guardia Civil has arrested and investigated 21 individuals behind the theft of 17,500 kilogrammes of olives within the Las Vegas area,” police mentioned, indicating 16 had been arrested and 5 others investigated.
In whole, they robbed six farms within the Las Vegas space, a rural area that lies southeast of the Spanish capital.
Olives targetted
The investigation started in January when a farmer complained in regards to the theft of 8,400 kilogrammes of olives from his land, with police making the hyperlink with different comparable incidents within the space involving “vital portions of olives”.
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In early February, they have been alerted to the presence of 5 individuals in a automobile carrying 140 kilogrammes of olives in broad daylight, however none of them might show they have been legally acquired.
Investigators then raided two olive presses within the Toledo and Guadalajara areas that have been allegedly receiving the stolen fruit, arresting these in cost.
Theft and fraud expenses
In whole, investigators discovered documentation referring to the change of greater than 17.5 tonnes of stolen olives and seized a number of tanks containing greater than 6,000 litres of olive oil.
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The detainees, aged between 20 and 57, have been charged with a wide range of offences together with theft, fraud and receiving stolen items.
