TZANEEN – The fight against avocado theft in the Tzaneen area continues to frustrate both farmers and law enforcement, as organised criminal networks target fruit farms for quick profits, often leaving behind severe financial losses and damaged crops.

What was once a seasonal concern has now become a widespread crisis, with residents uncertain whether the produce being sold on local roads and street corners is legitimate or stolen.

“Theft of avocados is a serious and ongoing problem throughout the Mopani region,” Marius Jacobs of Canine Security, told the Herald. “Unfortunately, about 90% of these incidents go unreported to the police.”

Jacobs explained that proving fruit theft is challenging, especially once the avocados are out on the streets and mixed with legal produce. “We can tell the problem is growing when you see avocados being sold long before harvesting officially begins on farms,” he said.

According to Jacobs, the problem is not limited to avocados. Farms in Letsitele, for example, are also experiencing increased cable and citrus theft. “Criminals, sometimes truck drivers, often from Mozambique, steal irrigation cables at night. Even when we manage to recover stolen fruit, it’s often bruised, damaged, and useless to the farmer due to black spots and premature picking.”

Despite the high costs of private security, Jacobs stressed that the services are essential. “Many complain about the expense, but given the scale of theft, security companies are not a luxury; they are a necessity.”

An anonymous farm manager echoed Jacobs’ concerns, warning that organised syndicates are behind much of the theft. “There’s a clear pattern. Fruit is stolen at night and sold the next morning at traffic lights or along busy roads,” he said. “Much of it is harvested prematurely and rots quickly – when you cut it open, it’s already spoiled.”

He added that the issue is further complicated by seasonal workers, some of whom see theft as an opportunity to make extra money. “We’ve seen many cases where pickers, often foreign nationals, steal fruit. But it’s not just them. Even some farm employees, including production managers, have been caught sneaking crates off the property to sell elsewhere.”

Another growing concern is theft by people living near farms, who take advantage of the quiet nighttime hours to raid orchards.

The South African Avocado Growers Association (Saaga) has urged the public to be cautious when buying avocados from informal vendors.

CEO Derek Donkin stated that stolen fruit can often be identified by the absence of the stem. “A properly harvested avocado will have a piece of the stem still attached. Thieves, in their haste, snap the fruit off the tree, which leaves it more vulnerable to damage and spoilage,” Donkin said.

Additional warning signs include dark spots, bruises, and an overripe or rotting interior, all signs that the fruit was stolen and handled poorly.