Rome, Sep 26 (IANS): Italian police have caught a gang accused of stealing parmesan cheese wheels worth 785,000 euros ($878,768), in robberies that went on for more than a year, the media reported.
The cheese gang allegedly toured provinces in the central and northern Italy, scouting out factories and warehouses to target, The Local news reported.
In their investigation, police uncovered electronic equipment used to deactivate alarm systems, tools used to break into buildings, radios and weapons. The arrests were made this week.
The well-organised gang stole a total of 2,039 parmesan wheels between November 2013 and January 2015.
Due to the high-quality of Parmigiano Reggiano, which is a protected product in Italy and the European Union, their loot was valued at 785,000 euros.
Italians are particularly protective of their well-known cheese, which is exported around the world.