By Ginika Igboke
A string of high-value seafood thefts has rattled New England in recent weeks, with tens of thousands of oysters, hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of lobster, and a large shipment of crabmeat stolen in separate but closely timed incidents. Authorities and industry experts say the cases highlight a rapidly growing problem in cargo and freight theft that is increasingly sophisticated and difficult to stop.
The first theft was reported Nov. 22 in Falmouth, Maine, where officials believe thieves targeted an aquaculture site in Casco Bay. According to the Maine Marine Patrol, 14 cages containing roughly 40,000 oysters were stolen from the water. Many of the oysters were fully grown and ready for market, making the loss especially damaging for the small business that owned them. Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Sinclair said the oysters and the stolen cages were valued at about $20,000.
“This is a devastating situation for a small businessman,” Sinclair said, noting that shellfish farmers often invest years of labor before their product is ready for sale. Investigators have not announced any arrests, and the stolen oysters have not been recovered.
Two more seafood thefts occurred weeks later in Taunton, Massachusetts, roughly 160 miles south of Falmouth. On Dec. 2, a shipment of crabmeat disappeared shortly after leaving the Lineage Logistics warehouse, though details about how the theft occurred remain limited. Less than two weeks later, on Dec. 12, an even larger heist unfolded when lobster meat valued at approximately $400,000 was stolen while in transit to Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota.
According to Dylan Rexing, CEO of Rexing Companies, the freight broker that arranged the lobster shipment, the crime was carried out by a fraudulent trucking company posing as a legitimate carrier.
“The carrier we hired impersonated a real carrier,” Rexing said. “They had a spoofed email address. They changed the name on the side of the truck. They made a fake certified driver’s license. It’s a very sophisticated crime.”
Rexing said police later informed him that the crab theft also originated from the same warehouse. Lineage Logistics, Costco, and Taunton police did not respond to requests for comment.
Industry experts say such crimes are becoming increasingly common. Rexing noted that cargo theft has been an issue for more than a decade, but the scale and frequency have accelerated in recent years.
“It happens every day, multiple times a day,” he said.
Chris Burroughs, president and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, explained that freight theft typically falls into two broad categories. One involves criminals impersonating legitimate trucking companies, as in the lobster theft. The second, known as strategic theft, often relies on phishing emails or hacking to gain access to shipping systems and divert payments or cargo without ever physically stealing the goods.
“This is a massive growing problem that needs to get addressed,” Burroughs said, warning that organized theft rings are becoming more technologically adept.
Because of its short shelf life, Rexing and Burroughs said the stolen lobster likely ended up in restaurants rather than being resold through legitimate retail channels. While some observers have joked online about thieves stealing lobster—and the butter to go with it—Rexing stressed that the consequences are serious and far-reaching.
“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 said. “Ultimately, that cost gets thrown to the consumer.”
As investigations continue, law enforcement and industry leaders say the recent New England cases underscore the need for stronger safeguards in the nation’s supply chain, particularly as high-value food shipments move across state lines.
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