New Zealand crime wave

[Skanky Vamp]

A shortage of the coveted avocado in New Zealand has led to a bizarre boom in avocado theft, driving supermarket prices sky high as bandits reap their black market rewards.
New Zealand’s strict biosecurity laws prevent the country from importing avocados, and two years of low harvests mean stocks are dwindling while prices are staying devastatingly high.

The burglars aren’t just looking for a free breakfast. Speaking to the New York Times, Alasdair Macmillan, New Zealand’s coordinator of community policing, said the criminals were definitely profit-driven. The avo bandits have appeared in many forms, from amateur to professional. Some of the robbers clearly didn’t graduate crime school: according to the New York Times, one pair were caught carrying thousands of dollars’ worth of avocados away from an orchard in doona covers, while two others fled the scene of their fruity crime in an Auckland back yard, one of them on a mobility scooter.

The criminals are hard to catch, Macmillan said, mostly because the crime is often noticed too late and “…the baddies get three or four weeks’ head start. The evidence would be well and truly devoured by then.”

 

[November]

NZ cashed in on Aussies Avo on Toast obsession. They planted huge orchids just before Australia hit peak obsession. The price here last year was up to $9 per avo, with health experts recommending them at every chance (to fight our depression and obesity epidemic)

Kiwis are funny creatures, like us, they don't like the top grade food being exported. And as far as I have seen, it is top grade. I have heard from my neighbours of thousands being spent on security to protect the avocados, It's such a lucrative business. Since I have moved to this area (similar to mild NZ weather) many landowners have put in avocado trees. Some near hwys, which are just asking to be nicked. Kiwis cash in on the latest food crazes ( I think they had a lot of oranges at one stage), and do it for benefit of their country. I duno why so many flock here when they love their own country so much. I think we have better welfare.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

$9 per avo,

Holy crap. I was complaining when they got as high as a buck fifty here. $9 australian is like 6.50 US. No wonder people were stealing them.

 

[November]

Holy crap. I was complaining when they got as high as a buck fifty here. $9 australian is like 6.50 US. No wonder people were stealing them.

Yep, and the consumers aren't complaining about the theft either. It is much cheaper to buy avos at tax free makers, all cash in the pocket of the provider, not big business. Win win 😉

 

[brinkster130]

$9 for an avocado 😱

Oh man, blood avocados from Mexico and black market avocados from New Zealand....the fruit just cant catch a break. Speaking of avocados, it has been nearly impossible to find good ones in my area for the last month or so.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

A shortage of the coveted avocado in New Zealand has led to a bizarre boom in avocado theft, driving supermarket prices sky high as bandits reap their black market rewards.
New Zealand’s strict biosecurity laws prevent the country from importing avocados, and two years of low harvests mean stocks are dwindling while prices are staying devastatingly high.

The burglars aren’t just looking for a free breakfast. Speaking to the New York Times, Alasdair Macmillan, New Zealand’s coordinator of community policing, said the criminals were definitely profit-driven. The avo bandits have appeared in many forms, from amateur to professional. Some of the robbers clearly didn’t graduate crime school: according to the New York Times, one pair were caught carrying thousands of dollars’ worth of avocados away from an orchard in doona covers, while two others fled the scene of their fruity crime in an Auckland back yard, one of them on a mobility scooter.

The criminals are hard to catch, Macmillan said, mostly because the crime is often noticed too late and “…the baddies get three or four weeks’ head start. The evidence would be well and truly devoured by then.”

I just wanted to express how much I enjoy your threads.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

My daughter spent several weeks in New Zealand about three years ago as part of her Masters' course in Mythology. When I mentioned black market avocados, her only response was, "Yeah, I probably know some of the dealers."

 

[Ethan Reigns]

So far, her Masters' degree has got her jobs in retail and now as a booking agent for a construction company. She could have continued on for a Doctorate but she didn't like the "publish or perish" stress and although the SJW culture was not really established there, a lot of professors lived in fear of their students getting them fired over perceived slights and equal fear of the administration that would let that happen.

 

[November]

So far, her Masters' degree has got her jobs in retail and now as a booking agent for a construction company. She could have continued on for a Doctorate but she didn't like the "publish or perish" stress and although the SJW culture was not really established there, a lot of professors lived in fear of their students getting them fired over perceived slights and equal fear of the administration that would let that happen.

Ahh sounds a bit stressful then. I never knew Mythology was something that could be studied at uni. All the fun courses are Masters types and I couldn't get through the borefest of bachelor lol. I want to go to NZ one day. Maybe. My brother in law is a Kiwi and my sister lived there for a few years with him. He loves the surf but she hates the rain. Now I want avocado and ham for lunch...

PS I think fake avocado in a tube should be illegal. It is an insult to real avocados.