A shipment of live lobsters worth about $400,000 was supposed to end up in Costco locations in Illinois and Minnesota, but it never made it there, and that’s the part that has law enforcement and the logistics industry talking about something bigger than a one-off theft.
In a FOX 32 Chicago report, Justine Baker wrote that the shipment was hijacked before delivery, and that the company involved believes it fits the pattern of an organized cargo theft ring that targets high-value loads.
On NewsNation’s Morning in America, host Anna Kooiman called it “new information” that’s gaining national attention, with the key fact being simple and strange at the same time: the FBI is investigating what happened to $400,000 in live lobsters that were headed to Costco.
Kooiman also told viewers the company responsible for delivery believes the lobsters were hijacked somewhere between Massachusetts and Illinois, which sounds like a long corridor of highways and exits where the wrong handoff can make a load disappear.
How The Lobsters Vanished Between Massachusetts And The Midwest
According to Justine Baker at FOX 32 Chicago, Dylan Rexing, the CEO of Rexing Companies, said the shipment was picked up in Taunton, Massachusetts, but never reached its destination in Illinois and Minnesota.
Baker reported that Rexing believes the theft appears to be part of an organized cargo theft ring that targets goods that are expensive, easy to resell, and fast to move.
On FOX 32 Chicago’s ChicagoLIVE, host Anita Blanton described the suspected method more bluntly, saying criminals posed as a legitimate carrier and hijacked the load, which is the kind of detail that makes companies nervous because it suggests planning, paperwork, and a convincing routine, not a random smash-and-grab.
When Blanton asked him to walk through what happened, Dylan Rexing didn’t treat it like a quirky “lobster story.” He called it a major issue the country is facing, and he linked it to inflation pressures because stolen cargo doesn’t just vanish – it shows up as higher costs somewhere down the line.
Rexing told Blanton that when he called to get a police report and shared the pickup and delivery details, he was told something that raised the alarm even more: a load of crab was stolen from the exact same Massachusetts facility about 10 days earlier.
That detail matters because it suggests repetition, not bad luck, and it’s hard to hear “same facility” and not think the thieves either know the routine or have figured out where the weak points are.
Why Lobsters Became A Perfect Cargo-Theft Prize
On NewsNation, Anna Kooiman brought in Amanda Buckle, co-host of the seafood market podcast “Catch the Current,” and Buckle’s reaction captured why this story spread so fast: it’s not just the dollar figure, it’s the sheer idea of it – live lobsters, a big-box retailer, and a disappearing truck.
Buckle joked that it’s a “podcaster’s dream,” but she also called it “a whopper,” and she pointed out that the cargo manifest has been made public, which let her team do the kind of math that turns an eyebrow-raising headline into a concrete picture.
Buckle said her pricing team estimated that $400,000 worth of lobster could equal roughly 40,000 pounds, putting the wholesale value in the ballpark of $8 to $9 per pound, depending on what type and timing you’re talking about.
That estimate is useful because it explains why a criminal group would bother with something as tricky as live seafood. Forty thousand pounds is not a cooler in the back of a van—it’s a serious commercial load that would require planning, storage, and a buyer network that can handle it.
Buckle also added context about the market itself, explaining that lobster pricing shifts with the season, and she noted that Canadian fishing areas have kicked off, with hard shells coming into the U.S. at about $2 cheaper than last year.
Even if the transcript was rough in places, her main point landed: the lobster market moves, and value depends on timing.
And timing is exactly what makes this case feel targeted. Buckle said Costco’s live lobster is a seasonal offering, especially around the holidays leading up to New Year’s, and she suggested this theft looks like someone knew what was in the truck and likely had a buyer lined up, because this isn’t the kind of product you steal and then “figure it out later.”
That’s the part that makes the story unsettling in a practical way. Stealing electronics is one thing, but stealing live lobsters means you either move fast and smart, or you lose the product, which points toward organization rather than chaos.
A Small-To-Mid Company Takes A Huge Hit
In Justine Baker’s FOX 32 Chicago report, she wrote that Rexing said the loss is significant for his Evansville, Indiana-based company, which employs more than 100 people, and that it could affect hiring plans and employee bonuses.
On ChicagoLIVE, Dylan Rexing put it in plain terms for Anita Blanton: “$400,000 is a lot of people we can hire,” and he called it heartbreaking, because a loss like that isn’t just a spreadsheet number for a mid-sized business.
Rexing told Blanton it could mean no Christmas bonuses, or delaying an extra hire, or having less flexibility when you’re trying to grow, and he kept circling back to the same reality – “the lobster’s gone,” and the financial hit is real whether anyone gets caught or not.
That’s one of those moments where a weird headline turns into something very normal and human. A stolen load isn’t just about luxury seafood; it’s about whether workers get a bonus, whether a company feels confident enough to add staff, and whether future customers pay a little more because risk keeps rising.
Rexing also sounded less defeated than energized, telling Blanton he wanted to shed light on the issue so other businesses and the public understand the size of the problem, and he said he’d come back to keep talking about it as more information comes in.
Cargo Theft Is Growing, And The Lobsters Are Just The Latest Example
In her FOX 32 Chicago article, Justine Baker noted that industry leaders warn cargo theft is a growing nationwide issue that costs U.S. businesses billions each year, and she quoted Rexing calling it “a huge issue across the country” that impacts businesses and contributes to higher consumer prices.
On ChicagoLIVE, Dylan Rexing went even bigger, telling Anita Blanton that his association estimates cargo theft is over $100 billion a year, and he argued that criminals are “good” at what they do, meaning this isn’t a small-time operation.
Rexing said he’d been speaking with professional contacts and hearing stories like “nine truckloads stolen in five days” with values over $250,000, and he presented it as a scale problem that needs more resources, not just better luck.
He also described the kinds of loads thieves want: higher-value goods that are easily moved, which fits lobster surprisingly well when you consider how valuable it can be, how quickly it sells, and how many smaller markets might be tempted by “a great deal.”
That last point lined up with what Amanda Buckle told Anna Kooiman on NewsNation when Kooiman asked how prevalent seafood theft is. Buckle said it does happen, and she suggested that large retailers with strict traceability requirements are less likely to be the ones selling stolen product, while smaller shops might be more vulnerable to fraudulent paperwork or suspicious sourcing.
Buckle also mentioned looking at CargoNet reporting and said there has been an uptick in meat and seafood product theft, especially around the holidays, which fits the idea that criminals aim for goods that spike in demand when people are planning big meals.
You don’t have to be dramatic to see why this is a big deal. When criminals can pose as legitimate carriers, hook into normal logistics systems, and redirect a load without setting off alarms until it’s too late, the theft isn’t just the product—it’s the trust the whole shipping chain depends on.
What Happens Next In The Investigation And At Costco’s Door
Both Justine Baker at FOX 32 Chicago and Anna Kooiman at NewsNation reported the same bottom line on law enforcement: the FBI is investigating, and as of the reporting in these pieces, no arrests had been announced.
Baker wrote that Rexing said police noted a similar seafood shipment was stolen from the same Massachusetts facility earlier in the month, which keeps the focus on whether this is one crew repeating a playbook rather than unrelated incidents.
On ChicagoLIVE, Rexing told Anita Blanton he didn’t want to share too much about the FBI side, but he confirmed they are involved, and he said investigators need more resources to catch the people doing this.
Kooiman asked Buckle about price impacts, and Buckle’s answer was careful: she didn’t think this single event would suddenly change lobster prices nationwide overnight, but she did say it’s not a good thing for a retailer that’s already trying to manage costs and roll out new offerings, especially during a high-demand holiday stretch.
And that may be the most realistic takeaway. A single missing load won’t empty every seafood case, but it adds pressure to a system that already has tight margins, intense timing, and a lot of moving parts, which is exactly what organized theft groups seem to exploit.
For now, the clearest picture comes from the voices in these reports: Justine Baker documenting the logistics company’s warning about organized theft, Anna Kooiman spotlighting the FBI investigation and the national attention, Amanda Buckle explaining why the economics and timing make this kind of theft plausible, and Anita Blanton giving Dylan Rexing the space to say, plainly, that the loss is crushing for a mid-sized company – and that the bigger problem is getting worse.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
