Police have found about 400 stolen avocados at a Whangarei address following a search warrant this morning.
There have been a number of burglaries of avocado orchards around Whangarei recently.
Information from the public and further inquiries led to Police executing the search warrant at a Smeaton Drive address. The avocados were found in the garage.
A car believed to have been used to sell the avocados from at markets in Auckland was also seized at another Smeaton Drive address.
Police arrested two men, aged 18 and 41 years, and they will be facing burglary charges.
Police believe the men have been stealing avocados from several orchards and are carrying out further investigations to ascertain how many orchards have been targeted.
Police would like to thank a member of the public who noticed the men selling avocados from the boot of a car at the Avondale Sunday Market. The person had read publicity about the avocado orchard burglaries and thought the men selling the avocados seemed suspicious, so contacted the police.
Whangarei/Kaipara Area Prevention Manager Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said this person's information was crucial to police locating the people involved in the avocado burglaries.
"We rely on the public's help to prevent and help solve crime and this is a perfect example of that."
For media inquiries contact Northland Police Communications Manager Sarah Kennett on 09 945 4650 or 021 192 1099.
