However, it’s now emerged that some apple thefts are much more than child’s play. Concerns have been raised about the scale of fruit thefts at some of the country’s prized orchards. Such is the scale of some thefts that orchard growers have concerns the apple thieves’ haul will end up for sale at markets, or will be used to make illicit alcohol. “There are incidents all over Scotland of people driving up to orchards in white vans and taking fruit. “Community groups will hold apple days, they’ll gather fruit for themselves to eat or juice it, give it to food banks,” she says.