Why steal 1,00,000 eggs? Pennsylvania Police clueless

The heist of 1,00,000 eggs from the back of a trailer in Pennsylvania has become a whodunit that police have yet to crack.

Four days after the theft that law enforcement say could be tied to the sky-high cost of eggs, no leads have come in, Trooper First Class Megan Frazer, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, said Wednesday.

“We're relying on leads from people from the community. So we're hoping that somebody knows something, and they'll call us and give us some tips,” she said.

Police are also following up with any possible witnesses and looking into surveillance footage that could help them identify the perpetrator as they race to solve the mystery.

“In my career, I've never heard of a hundred thousand eggs being stolen. This is definitely unique," said Frazer, who has a dozen years on the job.

Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And it appears there may be no relief in sight with Easter approaching.

The average price per dozen eggs nationwide hit US$ 4.15 in December. That is not quite as high as the USD 4.82 record set two years ago, but the Agriculture Department predicts egg prices are going to soar another 20 per cent this year.

The 100,000 eggs were snatched from the back of Pete & Gerry's Organics' distribution trailer on Saturday about 8:40 p.m. in Antrim Township, Pennsylvania, according to police.

They are worth about USD 40,000, which means this crime is a felony, Frazer said.

Pete & Gerry's Organics LLC 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.