Police use thermal cameras to monitor them

Unidentified thieves steal grape crops in Switzerland

Swiss police have recently stepped up raids.

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Police are currently using infrared cameras while patrolling vineyards in Switzerland to catch thieves who have stolen large quantities of grapes, which are turned into wine, worth 30,000 euros.

Winemakers in the Chamoson region, in the Rhone Valley, called in police patrols after stealing a total of 3,300 pounds of grapes in seven nighttime raids.

"Our cheapest wine is 15 euros a bottle, so when we lose any grapes, it has a price," said Claude Cretin, mayor of Chamusson and head of the local vineyards' association.

The thefts coincide with a poor harvest in the region, which produces highly sought after Swiss red and white wines.

Heavy rains wiped out large quantities of crops this year.

“This is especially difficult here where we have hundreds of small, family-owned vineyards, everything is done by hand because of the slopes,” the mayor says. “We produce our wine like we produce our watches - hard work."

Police, who have not yet identified the suspects, said raids had increased since last year, when there were only two robberies.

Chretien said he suspects that the owners of the vineyards damaged by the rain may be behind the thefts.

"When some places are destroyed and others are filled with grapes, it must be difficult to resist grabbing small amounts of vineyards," he said.

"We monitor things during the day, we have prevented pedestrians from crossing the vineyards, and now at night the police use infrared cameras, which are usually used to monitor poachers and wild animals," he added.

The theft of asparagus and apricots from local farms during a previous weak season for fruits and vegetables indicates that the population is vulnerable to agricultural theft.

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