Avocado scam goes pear-shaped for gang

THREE men in California have been arrested after the theft of $300,000 (£235,000) worth of avocados.

The trio – Carlos Chavez, 28, Rahim Leblanc, 30, and Joseph Valenzuela, 38 – were arrested on Wednesday.

“We take these kinds of thefts seriously,” said Sgt John Franchi of the Ventura county sheriff ’s department.

“It’s a big product here and in California.”

Avocado prices have surged in recent months, owing to a diminished avocado crop in California and Mexico and increased demand worldwide.

US per capita consumption was only 0.5kg in 1989, but rose to 3.2kg by 2014, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

The Hass Avocado Board reported that the average sales price for an avocado was 89 cents in January. By March 19, the latest week of data reported, it had risen to $1.25. In New York, Whole Foods avocados are $2.50.

Police believe the men were stealing and selling avocados to unsuspecting customers for several months.

In late May, sheriff’s detectives launched an investigation into allegations the men were receiving cash for the stolen avocados, said Mr Franchi.

“They were looking to make money,” he said.

The men had been working at Mission Produce in Oxnard, 60 miles outside of Los Angeles.