In some parts of Lorca, people have set up night patrols in after a series of watermelon thefts in the area. Murcia growers are now asking police officers to protect the thefts which see their produce sold on the black market.
President of COAG farmers' association, Placido Perez-Chuecos: “We need more police controls in the area and if the police officers see vans they should stop them and check if they are carrying watermelons."
Over 1,000 kilos of watermelons have been stolen this week alone and are thought to have been sold to the black market. This further decreases farmers' profits following a year in which they have already been forced to plant 10% fewer watermelons due to heavy April rainfalls.
Source: theolivepress.es