Florida’s sunny climate is perfect for growing juicy oranges, mangoes, berries and other fruits. The sight of these luscious fruits can tempt you to pluck a handful or even load up a vehicle full of them. However, fruit theft is no small matter, especially for farmers who suffer millions in lost crops.
In the Sunshine State, stealing fruit, even from a neighbor’s tree, is a serious offense. If caught, you could face two criminal charges: trespassing and stealing.
The potential consequences of unlawfully picking fruit
When people steal fruit, they often must do so by entering someone else’s property without consent. Under Florida law, this is trespassing. Depending on the situation, you could face either a misdemeanor or a felony charge.
As a petty misdemeanor, trespassing carries a maximum penalty of $500 in fines, jail time of up to 60 days or both. If someone was present on the property, the charge may escalate to a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, up to $1,000 in fines or both. Things change if you were carrying a weapon. In that case, you could face a third-degree felony and receive a sentence of up to five years in prison, a maximum of $5,000 in fines or both.
That is not all. Picking from a neighbor’s property or a nearby farm could result in petit theft or grand theft charges. Taking one or a few pieces of fruit valued at less than $100 could lead you to face petit theft charges, punishable by a maximum of 60 days in jail. In contrast, managing to take 2,000 or more pieces of fruit constitutes grand theft, punishable by up to five years in state prison, five years of probation and up to a $5,000 fine.
Stealing a few mangoes could make a neighbor furious, while taking from farmers impacts their livelihoods. To discourage potential offenders, law enforcement in Florida aims to impose the maximum penalties on those who are caught.
Sometimes, all you need to do is ask
Farmers and property owners with fruit trees are often more than happy to share their bounty if you just ask. Respecting boundaries may not only keep you out of legal trouble, but it may also help you foster better relationships within your community.
