"This fruit tree belongs to private property, no one is allowed to pick it. If anyone is found stealing the forbidden fruit, a fine of 100 yuan (per fruit) will be imposed." A reporter discovered yesterday that it's currently the season when mangoes are ripening, and an entrepreneur from a factory in Ronggui, Shunde, designed a "shocking" warning sign to prevent mango theft.
"Every day, there are people coming to steal. During the day, security guards watch over the area, but at night, thieves come with flashlights," said a relevant official from the Gui Zhou Hai Tong Aluminum Profiles Factory in the Ronggui District of Shunde during an interview yesterday morning. To enhance the aesthetics of neighborhood greenery, many residential areas in Shunde have planted mango trees. With summer approaching, and the tempting fruits hanging heavy on branches, many people start to get tempted. The only mango tree within this factory has not escaped the hands of thieves either; every evening, there are those with a craving who set up ladders to pick mangoes.
In order to prevent mango theft, the factory manager came up with the idea of hanging a fine notice on the tree. The sign spotted by the reporter yesterday was indeed "shocking", causing passers-by to cover their noses and chuckle quietly. However, the manager insisted that the "forbidden fruit" mentioned on the warning sign refers to mangoes that are prohibited from being stolen. When the reporter questioned whether a fine of 100 yuan per mango was reasonable, the manager stated: "We haven't actually fined anyone yet; it's just meant to serve as a deterrent."
Relevant medical staff from the Shunde Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital reminded citizens yesterday in an interview that roadside mango trees all belong to ornamental plants, so the fruits they bear should not be consumed, but are only for viewing purposes.