They crossed a small bridge far from the customer entrance, and after tearing down the fence, they entered the business to steal six centuries-old olive trees ready for sale. Whoever broke into Fioricoltura Loi in Santa Margherita on the night between Thursday and Friday knew what they were looking for and was familiar with the business: this is, for now, the only certainty the Carabinieri investigating the theft of the large trees have.

For the company, which has been operating for forty years in the heart of the village of Santa Margherita, the damage exceeded €10,000 and the bitterness of losing those trees ready to be delivered to customers. Alessandra Leori, one of the company's owners, doesn't hide her disappointment: "Beyond the financial loss, the idea that someone could break into our company so easily makes this unacceptable. It must be said that whoever arrived here, aboard a truck large enough to hold six large pots weighing almost half a ton, knew what they were doing. On Friday morning, we discovered that the olive trees we were supposed to deliver were no longer there, replaced only by the tire tracks of a large truck, ropes, and pliers: it was a great disappointment, my mother was taken ill."

The gang that pulled off such a risky yet well-planned heist was made up of people who not only knew Fioricoltura Loi inside out, but also knew exactly how to carry off such a heavy load.

"The thieves entered the perimeter of the property, which hosts eucalyptus trees," says Alessandra Leori, "and crossed a nearby farm, tearing down the fence. It must be said they were very clever; to remove six trees of that weight requires a large number of people and the right equipment. The theft could have been commissioned, and our trees were already planted who knows where."

The footage captured by gas stations on State Road 195 could be crucial, at least to understand which direction the truck with its precious cargo took. "Ours has always been a quiet village," says Leori, "but after the recent theft at the supermarket and the one committed against us, we feel less safe. Knowing that someone has violated our property has affected us emotionally. We hope that the Carabinieri investigation can help identify those responsible for the theft of the olive trees."

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