Stealing pineapples used to be a serious crime.

World History

I f you stole a pineapple today, you'd likely end up paying a small fine, but the punishment for pineapple theft was far more severe between the 16th and 19th centuries in Britain. Pineapples were first introduced to the European continent in the late 1400s, and rapidly gained popularity as a rare — and expensive — luxury among the elite. Growing pineapples on British soil proved challenging, and few made it back from Britain's Atlantic colonies without spoiling. This made the fruit all the more desirable, and by the 1770s, the most expensive pineapples were valued around £60 to £80, or roughly $17,000 to $23,000 today.

The scarcity and value of pineapples meant they were the target of many thieves, and given the high cost of each pineapple, those who were caught were subject to heftier fines and punishments than people who stole more common, inexpensive foods such as bread. By the late 18th century, farmers figured out how to grow pineapples on British soil, and many hired security guards to protect their crops. Still, criminals remained determined to get their hands on the valuable fruit. In 1807, a man named John Godding was charged with stealing seven pineapples, and was sentenced to seven years in an Australian penal colony. Eventually, pineapple rental shops began appearing throughout Britain, allowing middle-class Brits to borrow pineapples to be used as centerpieces at parties. By the latter half of the 19th century, Britain was importing more of the fruit than ever, and advances in refrigeration and canning made pineapples easier to come by.

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By the Numbers

Year the English word "pineapple" was first recorded

1398

Plants used to make Dole's Pineapple Garden Maze

14,000

Did you know?

While President, Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding.

On September 27, 1908, a story appeared in the Washington Evening Star in which retired police officer William H. West recounted the time that he arrested sitting President Ulysses S. Grant for speeding. The arrest had occurred back in 1872, during Grant's first term. At the time, West was out on patrol when he saw the President barreling down the street in a horse-drawn carriage. West stopped Grant and let him off with a warning, but caught the commander in chief speeding again the next day. At this point, West placed the President under arrest and brought him to the station for booking, where Grant posted a $20 bond (approximately $505 today) before being released. Grant forfeited the money after skipping his court appearance the following day, but the President suffered no further consequences. As for West, he was commended for keeping the streets safe, and also became friends with Grant after the incident.