Police in Tahara, Aichi Prefecture, are investigating the theft of about 800 cabbages from a field earlier this month.
According to police, the grower noticed the cabbages missing on the morning of Feb 5. The farmer said he had been on guard this year because cabbages had been stolen from his field last year, but added it was difficult to come up with effective countermeasures, NHK reported.
Due to last year’s extreme heatwave and a lack of rain, the price of cabbages has been rising, and was 2.5 times higher than average in mid-January. It is expected to remain higher than average for the rest of this month as well.
Aichi Prefecture is a major producer of vegetables, and in 2023, the production value of cabbages was 18.9 billion yen, the second highest in the country. Tahara City is the main production area.
Police have urged growers of fruit and vegetables across Japan to install surveillance cameras and sensors to try and prevent thefts.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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Guy_Gin_and_Tonic
Right, let’s all keep an eye out for guys in vans trying to sell them in car parks of supermarkets. You should be able to detect them nasally before you see them. Seriously though, what will they be doing? Making midnight backdoor deals with tonkatsu and yakisoba restaurants?
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
That's a lotta lettuce man.
garypen
800 cabbages oughta fetch a lotta cabbage.
GuruMick
Sensor lights not too expensive.
Add rabid attack dogs as extra measure.
If there's one thing I cannot abide...its cabbage theft.
grc
Perhaps if they were less expensive to buy?
Mie Fox
Farming is hard work and for someone to just come in and then steal the fruits of the farmer's labour is unforgivable. Hopefully Karma will get them, if the police fail.
Speed
Well, they are a bit expensive. But really, stealing 800 cabbages suck.
Eat the left
When all around you are losing their heads, it’s time to get a guard dog.