Think about the buffet.
Forty-thousand oysters, lobster price $400,000 and a cache of crabmeat all had been stolen in separate incidents inside weeks of one another in New England.
The primary seafood vanished on Nov. 22 in Falmouth, Maine, the place authorities suspect somebody stole 14 cages filled with oysters from an aquaculture web site in Casco Bay. Lots of the oysters had been full-grown and prepared on the market, and along with the cages had been price $20,000, in accordance with the Maine Marine Patrol.
“This is a devastating situation for a small businessman,” stated Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Sinclair.
The opposite two thefts occurred in Taunton, Massachusetts, about 160 miles (255 kilometers) away. First, a load of crab disappeared after leaving the Lineage Logistics warehouse on Dec. 2. Then, on Dec. 12, lobster meat destined for Costco shops in Illinois and Minnesota was stolen by a fraudulent trucking firm, in accordance with the dealer who organized the pickup.
Lineage Logistics, Costco and Taunton Police didn’t reply to requests for remark, however Rexing stated police informed him in regards to the crab theft from the identical warehouse.
That type of cargo theft has been an issue for over a decade, he stated, however has gotten worse lately.
“It happens every day, multiple times a day,” he stated.
“This is a massive growing problem that needs to get addressed,” he stated.
Given its brief shelf life, the stolen lobster probably ended up eating places, each stated. And whereas he’s seen loads of quips about stealing butter to go together with the lobster, Rexing stated such thefts in the end hurt shoppers.
“Whether you eat seafood or not, they’re stealing other items. They’re stealing items to build your cars. They’re stealing items that go into computers,” he stated. “Ultimately, that cost gets thrown to the consumer.”
