The bleating of her goats was a verifiable alarm for a Vermont woman as a fellow villager raided her avocado tree on Sunday.
Leroy Patrick, 21, a resident of the South Leeward village, had just stolen 78 avocados from a tree in Steforn Maloney’s yard, when the woman heard her goats “bawling”.
This was around 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, when Maloney was on her bed relaxing.
On hearing the animals, Maloney looked out her window and saw Patrick in her yard wearing a black long sleeve shirt, carrying a sack on his shoulder.
Patrick, who is also known as “Little D” and “Speedy”, appeared to be hustling to get out of the yard.
Maloney went into the yard where an avocado tree that has a large quantity of fruit on it is located.
She noticed that some of the avocados were missing and reported the matter to the police.
The police investigated and took Patrick into custody and he admitted to the offence.
The avocados were valued at EC$195.
Patrick pleaded guilty to the theft charge when he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court today (Monday).
In mitigation, Patrick asked to be allowed to pay for the fruits.
In handing down the sentence, the magistrate said that the offence was a serious one.
She told the defendant that when people plant agricultural produce it is for their livelihood.
Browne said that losing this produce is painful.
“In these times, we cannot afford that,” she said.
The chief magistrate ordered that the fruits be returned to their owner and fined Patrick EC$400 to be paid forthwith or serve one month in prison.
Like ever community needs to have a portion of land and fruit trees be planted on it. Anyone in the neighbourhood ( especially those without access to land) can pick fruits and be merry. In my community there is such land with mango trees and praises to that tree because it plugs a hole in nuff hungry bellies
These guys are wicked to themselves and the communities they belong. They refused to work for 5 hours out of 24 legally. instead they sit 23 hours a day out of 24. Watching and waiting for an opportunity to steal for 10 minutes. And then the remaining 30- 50 minutes rage of hustling to get items off. I’m woundering if the media can’t help them to realize that it’s unnecessary work, it overtime duties, and a risky job. And how much do they make?