Algarve’s carob producers are on maximum alert over a string of robberies that took a violent turn on Saturday, when a carob producer in Bordeira, Faro was run over after catching two people – “one a minor” – stealing from his carob trees.
“I called the GNR, but they immediately got into their car,” the victim told Correio da Manhã tabloid.
“The driver accelerated towards me and I had to jump onto the bonnet to avoid being hit in the legs. I was dragged for around 20 metres and then projected onto the road after he slammed on the brakes,” said the man, who was not identified by CM.
He also criticised the lack of police action in these cases.
“Officers say they can only arrest the perpetrators when they are caught red-handed, but the thieves always manage to get away before police arrive.”
As he pointed out, many families in the Algarve have carob plantations and try to make some money from them. Although the carob tree trade is “not as profitable as it once was”, the value of the carob has doubled from €5 to €10 for every 15 kilos in the last two years.
Still, he said, the profit is just not enough to cover the costs of installing security systems around the land.
“At any time of the day and in just a few hours, thieves can pick many bags’ worth of carobs, with losses amounting to €100 for every hour they are there stealing.”
