The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is disheartened to report that another farmer has lost his hard‑earned profits to thieves.
Farmer Daniel Renaud has confirmed that 12 sacks of fresh carrots, each weighing 50 pounds, were stolen overnight from his Smith’s Parish field. The carrots were just ready for harvest when they were removed under the cover of darkness.
This theft is especially devastating as many of Mr Renaud’s early carrots were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa earlier in the season. With no crop to sell, farmers face mounting production costs—including wages, supplies, seed, and fertilisers—without the income needed to sustain their operations.
The Department is asking members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in agricultural fields at night, particularly by individuals who do not appear to be regular farm staff.
- The public is encouraged to record images or footage of unusual behaviour.
- Reports can be made directly to the Bermuda Police Service at 211 or https://portal.police.bm/report.
- Dash cam footage, home security recordings, and observations from neighbours and passersby can all play a vital role in identifying offenders.
DENR, in conjunction with the Board of Agriculture and the Bermuda Farmers’ Association, is working to strengthen ties with the Bermuda Police Service and the public to encourage reporting and support potential prosecutions.
This collaborative approach aims to deter theft and protect Bermuda’s farming community. The Department of also working closely with the Board of Agriculture to create a new online reporting system for crop theft that will also permit anonymous reporting by members of the public who do not wish to be identified.
The public is strongly advised not to purchase fresh carrots from individuals who are not known commercial farmers. Anyone attempting to sell carrots under suspicious circumstances should be reported to the police.
Buying stolen goods is also an offence, and the Department urges the community to help stop this cycle by refusing to support illicit sales.
A DENR spokesperson stated, “Produce theft is a serious crime that undermines the livelihoods of our farmers and threatens Bermuda’s food security.
"We call on the public to stand with our farmers by reporting suspicious activity and refusing to purchase stolen goods. Together, we can protect our agricultural community and ensure its resilience for the future.”