A group of seafood thieves targeted an aquaculture site, making off with a significant haul of lobster valued at around $400,000 (£297,000), along with 40,000 oysters and crabmeat. The thefts occurred in separate incidents over a few weeks in Maine, a renowned region in the United States for its shellfish production. The first incident took place on November 22 at a site in Casco Bay, Falmouth, where 14 cages full of oysters were stolen, some of which were mature and ready for sale, totaling a value of $20,000 (£14,800) including the cages.
According to the Maine Marine Patrol, the stolen seafood belonged to a small business owner, causing severe financial loss. Two more thefts occurred in Taunton, Massachusetts, about 158 miles away, shortly after. The first incident involved the disappearance of a shipment of crab from the Lineage Logistics warehouse on December 2. The second theft, on December 12, targeted lobster meat intended for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota, stolen by a deceitful trucking company identified by brokers.
The CEO of Rexing Companies revealed that the fraudulent trucking company used sophisticated methods, including impersonating a legitimate carrier and creating fake documentation. Cargo theft, particularly involving seafood, has been a persistent issue for years, with incidents increasing in frequency. The stolen lobster, due to its perishable nature, likely ended up in restaurants, affecting consumers indirectly by raising costs across various industries.
The CEO emphasized the broader impact of such thefts, highlighting that stolen goods, including those intended for seafood, have a ripple effect on consumer prices in various sectors. Addressing this escalating problem is crucial to safeguarding businesses and consumers from the repercussions of organized theft activities.