Five tonnes of pears stolen from Victorian farm

If you are offered some cheap pears in Victoria over the Easter break, it might be wise to decline — thieves have made off with five tonnes of beurre bosc pears from a property near Portland, in Victoria’s south-west.

The ABC reports the culprit accessed the property from a side gate and then allegedly tore down five rows of orchards, almost half a kilometre long, from the property between 18 and 20 March.

The theft is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents from farming properties across south-west Victoria. In February, about 140 sheep, valued at more than $30,000, were stolen from a property at Dunkeld, near Hamilton, with Victoria Police believing the culprit is someone from within the farming community.

Despite the size of the haul, the stolen pears are only valued at around $1500.

Originally published here.