Before The “Unusual” Robbery, Over $300,000 Worth Of Frozen Shrimp Were On Their Way To Costco

NEW JERSEY: After committing a heist in New Jersey, a robber made quite the discovery. The Middlesex Police Department reports that at 4 a.m. on September 5, a truck driver claimed that his consignment of around 500,000 frozen shrimp, valued at approximately $305,000, had been stolen. According to reports, the shipment was intended for a Monroe Township Costco. The driver reported to police that he had booked a spot on Smalley Avenue for parking, but the $50,000 tractor trailer and the 25,000 pound consignment were nowhere to be seen when he tried to deliver them.

Nothing More Was Disclosed

The truck driver was interviewed by Philadelphia’s NBC affiliate WCAU; he chose not to provide his name. “I didn’t see my truck when I got into the yard,” he remarked. “I’m not sure what went wrong. “Where’s my truck, please?” Four additional containers for shipping at the facility had been broken into, but nothing was taken, according to detectives. Authorities eventually located the shrimp shipment in Perth Amboy, around 16 miles away, according to the trade newspaper Seafood Source. It’s unclear if the shrimp or another item was the intended objective of the heist. Nothing more was disclosed.

Middlesex police Det. Sgt. Sean Flanagan stated told WCAU, “It’s definitely unusual.” “This has never happened in Middlesex Borough before.” The truck driver, whose livelihood depends on the shipments, found the episode somewhat amusing, although it was far from comical. He remarked, “It’s just me & my truck, and I won’t have an occupation for a week.” “I need to wait, even though I’ve tried to make applications.” Officers have not yet made an arrest. The Middlesex police can be reached at 732-356-1900 if you have any information.

Criminal Activity Affecting Logistics

Strangely enough, more crimes involving seafood have occurred this year; in Philadelphia, robberies of tuna on August 8 and crabmeat on September 4 were reported by Seafood Source. “Despite the ongoing crime wave that started in late 2022, criminal activity affecting the logistics & transportation sector reached new heights in the first quarter of 2024. According to the site, CargoNet reported that it had recorded an astounding 925 instances. This is a significant 46 percent increase from the first quarter of 2023 and a worrisome 10 percent increase from the 4th quarter of 2023.