Less agricultural crime in Pilar de la Horadada

AGRICULTURAL crime in Pilar de la Horadada has reduced by 30 per cent and 10 arrests have been made since the creation of the Rural Patrol seven months ago.

Five Local Police officers have been patrolling more than 65 square kilometers in the municipality. “During each eight hour shift we cover up to 150km,” said Miguel Ibañez Vera, officer and coordinator for the Rural Patrol.

Farmers in the area say they feel “safer” and know that “compared to other areas surrounding Pilar” they have less agriculture robberies, according to Benjamin Samper, president of the agriculture cooperative Surinver.

All the stolen produce and equipment from the 10 robberies were recovered, including 20kg of copper. Robberies are not the only work that the Rural Patrol carries out. “On one occasion we rescued a chicken that was lost and running around on the road and another time we saved a dog from drowning in a reservoir,” Ibañez said.