Three California workers conceived what they thought to be an ingenious plan to make some big bucks.  The produce company workers, Joseph Valenzuela, 38, Carlos Chavez, 28, and Rahim Leblanc, 30, instigated a heist to hijack a whopping $300,000 worth of avocados from their employer, Mission Produce, after noting the plant in which they worked had changed its distribution flow.

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The price of the soft green fruit, which is grown in California, Mexico, New Zealand and Chile, has skyrocketed as of late due to increased popularity as both a heart healthy snack and a product known for its beauty benefits. Also known as an alligator pear or butter fruit, numerous studies have found that avocados can help to decrease the risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy and overall lower weight. Avocados are rich in healthy fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that can moisturize and improve skin so, they are included in many beauty products.  “They are in demand. Everybody loves avocados,” said Sgt. John Franchi of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The men behind the heist were charged with grand theft and are in jail on bail of $250,000 each. Authorities are calling the crime "grand theft avocado", but Franchi said, “We take these kinds of thefts seriously.  It’s a big product here and in California.”  New security measures were instilled in the distribution center, and Mission Produce was able to recover the loss with insurance money.  In 2015, California alone exported $25 million worth of avocados, according to the UC Davis Center for Agricultural Issues, making the fruit a key product of profit.  The California Avocado Commission offers advice and maintains a hotline to protect growers from thefts.

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