Berry bandit strikes again at Campbellton farm - Action News
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Berry bandit strikes again at Campbellton farm

A berry farmer in central Newfoundland who lost about $300 worth of product in a robbery says the thieves slipped in under a piece of plastic covering his kiosk.

Farmer says thieves could have eaten their fill for $3, calls theft 'disappointing'

Thieves made off with about 40 pints of berries and an armload of jam from the Campbellton Berry Farm in central Newfoundland this week. (CBC)

It's not your usual target for thieves, but someone broke intoCampbellton Berry Farm in central Newfoundlandand stole about $300 worth of raspberries and jam.

"Someone who is quite slim crawled inunderneatha piece of plastic that we have for our kiosk at the entrance, and ripped it andmanaged to get in," saysownerPhilip Thornley.

The theft would have happened some time Sunday.

"It looked like they had some help because they seemed to be passing it over a fence and, well, it's disappointing," said Thornley.

Older man in sweater
Farmer Phil Thornley, who describes himself as "an aging hippie," says he dreamed of providing good good to people, and the thefts are not part of that dream. (CBC)

"It's not part of the dream I had for the farm, that I've got to start arming against people stealing."

Thornley said the thieves made off with 40 pints of berries and a half dozen jars of jam.

"They would have had their arms full," he said, adding the banditsmoved quickly.

"They did it within about an hour. They may have been hiding in the woods and watching, or it could have been children because there were some children tearing around the farm on their ATVs."

Thornleysaid he told the young riders to go home, so he believes "it may have been revenge."

This is the second robbery at the farm in as many years. In March 2015, berries meant for the Kids Eat Smart school program were stolen from Thornley's freezer.

After this incident, Thornleysaid he will likely install surveillance cameras.

"Ifit is kids, they've got to know they can't get away with it," he said.

"If they wanted to come to the farm and pay three dollars they could fill their stomachs. They wouldn't have to break in."

With files from Central Morning Show