Apple Theft Arrests Uncommon Since 2000

With nine people being arrested in the last two weeks for attempted apple theft at Mack's Apples, police are not presuming any motive in the two separate incidents.

Londonderry Police Capt. Jerry Dussault said that with the nine arrests, there have now been 11 arrests in the last 12 years related to apple theft. 

Two people were arrested last year, with no arrests taking place in the years previous dating back to 2000.

According to Dussault, all of those arrested have come from the Boston area, from locations such as Jamaica Plain, Quincy, Malden and Brighton.

Dussault added that while apple theft incidents might be uncommon in the last 12 years, he remembers them taking place regularly at this time of year before 2000.

"It's strange, you make a 50-mile ride just to steal apples," he said.

"Frankly, I would be surprised if the Chelmsford, Westford and in general the Nashoba Valley areas were not subject to the same type of activity in the fall," he said.

The first incident this year involved a family of four allegedly attempting to load up their car with stolen apples.

Hang Wong, 58, Tony Wong, 57 and their two sons, Wai Wong, 27, and Steven Wong, 19, were all charged with theft by deception. All four family members came from Quincy, Mass.

Five others were charged just days later, this time allegedly attempting to steal apples from an orchard on Ash Street.

Joanne Liu, 42, of 912 Jetter Court, Brighton, Mass.; Li Zhu, 54, of 19 Porter St., Malden, Mass.; Xiao Fang Guan, 54, of 411 Newport Avenue, Quincy, Mass.; Yan Fen Yang, 57, of 1305 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass.; and Zuo Zhu Xue, 41, of 196A Shore Drive, Quincy, Mass. were charged with theft.

All nine theft suspects are scheduled to appear in Derry District Court on Nov. 5.

Dussault said that there are no extra patrols from police at this time other than the guys on routine patrol.