100,000 Eggs Stolen: Heist
Thieves stole approximately 100,000 eggs valued at $40,000 from a trailer at a Pennsylvania egg distributor earlier this month, highlighting the growing issue of cargo theft.
In a crime that seems almost tailored for media attention, thieves stole approximately 100,000 eggs valued at $40,000 from a trailer at a Pennsylvania egg distributor earlier this month, highlighting the growing issue of cargo theft.
According to the police report, on Saturday, February 1, at around 8:40 p.m., Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, police responded to a call about the theft of 100,000 eggs at Pete & Gerry's Organics on Commerce Ave. in Greencastle. The eggs, valued at around $5 per dozen, were taken from the back of a distribution trailer. The investigation is ongoing.
Scott Cornell, transportation lead and crime specialist at Travelers, categorized this as "straight theft," referring to the traditional smash-and-grab style of theft, which contrasts with the growing issue of online fraud leading to "strategic theft." Cornell noted that despite the rise of strategic theft in recent years, straightforward theft remains the most common form of cargo theft.
While eggs may not traditionally be a high-value target, Cornell explained that they are part of the broader food category, which is one of the most commonly stolen commodities. The recent surge in egg prices has only made them more attractive to thieves.
The egg shortage has become so severe that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration declared a regional emergency on February 8 to help mitigate its impact on the national food supply.
