Thieves operating in Las Vegas, a rural area near the Spanish capital Madrid, managed to steal 17.5 tons of olives from local farms before being busted, police said on Friday when they confirmed 16 arrests.
“The Guardia Civil has arrested and investigated 21 people behind the theft of 17,500 kilograms of olives in the Las Vegas area,” said the police, indicating that 16 have been arrested and five others are being investigated.
In total, they robbed six farms in the Las Vegas area, a rural area located southeast of the Spanish capital.
Target olives
The investigation began in January when a farmer complained about the theft of 8,400 kilos of olives from his land, with police making links to other similar incidents in the area involving “large amounts of olives”.
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In early February, he was alerted that there were five people in a vehicle carrying 140 kilograms of olives during the day, but no one could prove that they got it legally.
Investigators then raided two olive mills in the Toledo and Guadalajara regions that allegedly received the stolen fruit, arresting those responsible.
Charges of theft and fraud
In total, investigators found documentation related to the exchange of more than 17.5 tons of stolen olives and seized several tanks containing more than 6,000 liters of olive oil.
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The detainees, aged between 20 and 57, were charged with various offenses including theft, fraud and receiving stolen goods.