August 24, 2018
A 41-year-old Blackbutt man was charged on Friday with the alleged theft of four tonnes of avocados during 2017 and 2018.
Officers from the Kingaroy Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) charged the man following an investigation into the theft of about $20,000 worth of avocados from two orchards in and around the Blackbutt area.
Surveillance cameras allegedly showed a car entering the orchards during the last two winter picking seasons.
The 41-year-old man has been charged with a total of 18 offences including six counts of stealing, six counts of receiving stolen property and six counts of fraud.
“These four tonnes of avocados represent income for these two farms and as a result they have suffered significant losses,” Detective Sergeant Mark Ferling said.
“Our farmers need as much support as possible at this time and theft like this is just intolerable.”
The man will appear in the Nanango Magistrates Court on September 20.
