Red persimmons in Gonglaoping, Fengyuan, Taichung, are in the middle of their harvest season and fetching better prices than in previous years, but a string of thefts has hit the orchards — bad news for growers after a year of hard work.

• Red persimmons are selling for about NT$40 per catty this year, far above the NT$10-plus seen when the market was depressed, and growers had been hoping for a good harvest.
• One orchard has already been raided twice, and this morning a couple carrying large bags broke in again, fleeing after being stopped on the spot.
• Farmers have put up homemade signs warning that they will call the police, and they want officers to step up patrols during the harvest season.
• City councillor Hsieh Chih-chung has called on the Fengyuan Precinct to launch a "Protect the Persimmons" operation, stepping up patrols and enforcement in the growing area.

Outlook: The harvest season still has some time to run, and thefts should ease once police patrols are stepped up — but the better the price, the greater the temptation.