Thieves make away with 100,000 eggs valued at $40,000 from a Pa. egg farm
Pete & Gerry's Organics had 100,000 eggs stolen from its trailer, valued at $40,000. Here's what we know.
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A large-scale egg heist in south-central Pennsylvania has left authorities scrambling for answers. This is no yolk.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) responded to a theft at Pete & Gerry’s Organics, an egg farm in Greencastle near the Maryland border known for its well-kept chickens and charitable work. Troopers determined that approximately 100,000 organic eggs — valued at $40,000 — were stolen from the rear of a distribution trailer. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
“The motive for this theft is unknown. It could be to sell them or even for vandalizing purposes,” said PSP Trooper Megan Frazer. “When it comes down to it, we don’t know. This is definitely a unique incident, especially with the large quantity of eggs that were stolen.”
Pete & Gerry’s Organics said in a statement that the company is working with law enforcement to investigate the theft. ”We take this matter seriously and are committed to resolving it as quickly as possible,” the statement said.
The theft comes amid rising egg prices. Costs have surged in recent years due to supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and ongoing outbreaks of avian flu that have devastated poultry stocks.
In the last three months alone, 30 million chickens have been culled to curb the spread of the virus. As a result, egg supplies remain lower than usual.
In Philadelphia, where a carton of eggs may have run a shopper $4 to $5, the price now sits at around $7 per dozen eggs. Local breakfast spots are reporting selling $14 omelets. The national average price per dozen eggs hit $4.15 in December, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicting a further 20% increase this year.
Whether the heist was an act of vandalism, an effort to get free eggs in trying times, or a financially motivated scheme to resell the stolen goods remains unclear. But for now, authorities are still working to crack the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.