The events occurred earlier this month when the owner of a farm in Les Alqueries caught two women red-handed stealing oranges from his field. The women, upon being discovered, fled in a van, leaving behind several sacks loaded with citrus fruits and baskets used for harvesting.

The stolen oranges were of the navel lane late variety. The detainees were picking the fruit from the inner part of the plot, hiding among the trees to make it difficult for surveillance patrols or the property owners to spot them.

Thanks to the efforts made by the ROCA team of the Civil Guard and the collaboration of the National Police of Vila-real, the alleged perpetrators of the theft were identified. The women, aged 36 and 57, were arrested for a crime of orange theft.

The proceedings initiated in connection with this case have been referred to the civil and instruction section of the Court of First Instance of Nules.