2,000 bunches of grapes stolen from Yamanashi farm

Let's not be ungrapeful for much needed humor...

We would all be very grapeful if these silly grape comments would stop.

Anyway, back to reality, I think it would be very difficult to sell 2000 bunches of grapes. And I heard about that ... on the grapevine.

What a grape bunch of comments! :-D

While I agree that it is a waste, maybe the culprit is closer to home? Someone who wants to make a point about money?

Crimes like this are terrible and should carry with them stiff and harsh punishment. Theft of the farmers time, monetary investment and the fact they (grapes) are food is truly a theft of life.

I thought to myself at first - whats the big deal grapes. Then I read 5 million yen! and then thought Crikey! But I wonder how the hell they did it? Thats an awful lot of grapes and then being that expensive you wouldnt want to bruise them and then its not like 2,000 bunches is a small amount.....interesting desho.....

The police are looking for a 40' tall purple gorilla named, Grape Ape.

Possibly UFO's/aliens? would explain how they disappeared with no witnesses.

Police are looking for some tired French peasants with grape juice stains between their toes.

Must be the recession bringing out this nouveau breed of criminal. Stealing grapes is definitely bordeauxing on desperation.

The Yamanashi police need to solve this one to prove their raisin d'être. They are currantly investigating.

To steal 2000 bunches of grapes must have taken quite some time and quite a few people, wouldn't it? How can this happen without any of the neighbours not seeing the thieves? And as "bobbafett" said, how would you transport such a large amount of produce? I'm quite sure the thieves will be caught, because, also how would you sell them without a lot of people knowing about the sale?

With the crazy prices of fruit in Japan, can you wonder why someone would steal them. I hope they are selling them cheaper.

ahem, a case of sour grapes perhaps?

Another problem for the local police to grape-l with!! Anyway, I'm sure they'll put in a grape effort to find the people responsible.

how long would it take and how would one transport 2,000 bunches of grapes? its quite an operation considering the distribution, profits and risk are not attractive at all. Perhaps this is more of a revenge thing than a heist.

No he doesn't make wine out of it. Where does it say that in the article? No, these are table grapes. And yes, market value on this type can be up to 2500 yen. Kind of misleading in the article since the chance of ALL the bunches being perfect is pretty slim. I live in Yamanashi and my father-in-law knows the man in question, as he too grows table grapes, though not on the same scale, nor the same variety. It actually should be fairly easy to catch the criminals since: a) where are you going to put 2000 bunches of grapes b) since they were not supposed to be picked for a month, buyers will balk at anything approaching top price and c) as long as the Yamanashi police keep their eyes and ears open, anyone talking about this variety, again a month before harvest, should lead them to the culprits. Unless of course it's those pesky North Koreans abducting innocent grapes for the pleasure of the toad man.

common, he estimates one bunch at 2,500 yen?? and he makes wine out of it??

No use wining about it.

-don't worry they will grow back. The animals are hungry it seems.

Slow news day.

Someone's obviously gonna crack out the cheese and have a party, although good wine in this country is hard to come by.