TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hualien police have formed patrol teams in Yuli Township to prevent watermelon theft.
Hualien Police Bureau’s Yuli Precinct Chief Huang Ching-hui (黃清暉) led criminal investigation officers, traffic police, and volunteer officers into the fields to begin patrols. He said teams will use random patrols, small-area patrols, and late-night patrols to maximize effectiveness, per CNA.
Police have also been deployed along key roadways to increase inspections, Huang said. He noted that officers will conduct spot checks on large trucks transporting watermelons, in addition to suspicious individuals and vehicles.
The Yuli Precinct added that it has expanded surveillance coverage by deploying drones. The precinct has also started a network with watermelon farmers to facilitate information sharing.
Watermelons grown in Hualien have been under harvest since May. Farmers report that an earlier cold wave has resulted in an approximate 30% decrease in output compared to previous years. This reduction in supply, coupled with a supply shortage in the west, has driven up prices from NT$25 to NT$29 (89 cents) per 0.6 kg.
Hualien has more than 1,600 hectares dedicated to watermelon cultivation, the largest in Taiwan. Between May and July, the county typically produces more than 20,000 tonnes of the fruit.
According to Hualien's Agriculture Department, some local watermelon fields are experiencing viral infections transmitted by small insects. Infected watermelons exhibit stunted or halted growth. The agency added that rising temperatures could lead to rapid pest reproduction, posing an increased threat to watermelon cultivation in the region.
