An organised crop theft ring has resurfaced in villages around Laona in Paphos district, with women on quad bikes stealing produce and selling it immediately to waiting buyers, new police complaints reveal.
- The scheme, first exposed by Phileleftheros last April, had gone quiet for several months but has recently reignited, prompting a flurry of complaints from local farmers and residents.
The scheme, first exposed by Phileleftheros last April, had gone quiet for several months but has recently reignited, prompting a flurry of complaints from local farmers and residents.
Quad bikes: How the Thefts Unfold
Reports indicate that women, often working on farms or in local businesses, ride quad bikes into fields, swiftly cut down crops, and sell them to accomplices waiting nearby. This alarming trend has caught the attention of local authorities and the community.
One farmland owner shared her unsettling experience after discovering a stranger on a quad bike in her field. Upon confronting the woman, who was busy taking photos with her mobile phone, the landowner noticed bags filled with her stolen crops next to the vehicle.
A Bizarre Encounter
Curious about the intruder’s intentions, the landowner questioned her presence. The woman nonchalantly claimed she had stopped to take photographs of the area. However, the landowner’s suspicions grew as she observed large quantities of her produce already cut and prepared for transport.
As the landowner went to alert her relatives, she witnessed a commercial vehicle pull up, where an unknown man emerged. The woman approached him with the stolen produce, receiving €20 for her efforts, which she initially rejected, insisting on a higher price. After some negotiation, the buyer handed over €40, took the produce, and drove away.
Wider Community Concerns
This incident was not an isolated case, as other plantation owners have reported similar thefts, indicating the operation’s organised nature. Local residents have also expressed their concerns to officials, leading to increased scrutiny of the situation.
MP Chrysanthos Savvides confirmed the complaints and described the activities as the work of an organised gang. Residents in Drouseia and surrounding areas have reported that women on quad bikes regularly invade farms, cut crops, and within minutes, vehicles arrive to collect the stolen goods. The quick turnover of these operations highlights the brazen nature of the thieves.
Local Authorities Respond
The local community is rallying for action against this alarming trend. Farmers have banded together to alert authorities and share their experiences, hoping to put an end to the cycle of theft that has disrupted their livelihoods. As complaints continue to pour in, the police are under pressure to investigate and take appropriate measures to protect local farmers from these thefts.
