At a Glance
- $400,000 shipment of lobsters stolen en route to Costco stores.
- Driver impersonated a legitimate carrier using spoofed emails and burner phones.
- The theft could raise freight costs and affect consumer prices.
- Why it matters: It highlights a growing trend of freight theft that can increase supply-chain costs for consumers.
A high-value shipment of dead lobsters worth $400,000 vanished while heading to Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota, according to the president of Rexing Companies.
Theft Details
Rexing Companies president Dylan Rexing said the driver had posed as a legitimate carrier and stole the seafood.
- Driver impersonated legitimate carrier
- Spoofed emails
- Burner phones
| Item | Value | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Lobster shipment | $400,000 | Costco stores in Illinois & Minnesota |
Impact on Supply Chain
Rexing warned that the loss forces tough decisions and drives up costs across the supply chain, ultimately affecting consumers.
Dylan Rexing stated:
> “This theft wasn’t random. It followed a pattern we’re seeing more and more, where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers using spoofed emails and burner phones to hijack high-value freight while it’s in transit.”
Dylan Rexing added:
> “For a mid-sized brokerage like ours, a $400,000 loss is significant. It forces tough decisions and ultimately drives up costs across the supply chain – costs consumers ultimately end up paying.”
Dylan Rexing said:
> “Brokers are on the front lines of this problem, but we need federal agencies to have modern enforcement tools to keep pace with organized criminal networks. Until that happens, these thefts will continue to disrupt businesses and impact everyday prices.”
Rescued Lobster
In a separate incident, a 1-in-30-million orange lobster was rescued and returned to the sea by Humane Long Island after being spotted in a seafood market in New York.
Key Takeaways
- $400,000 lobster shipment stolen before reaching Costco.
- Impersonation tactics used: spoofed emails and burner phones.
- The theft may increase freight costs and consumer prices.
The incident underscores the need for stronger enforcement tools to protect high-value freight.
