When Lobsters Go Missing: What the Costco Heist Teaches Us About Cargo Security

A bizarre but increasingly common crime made headlines recently: a truckload of lobster worth roughly $400,000 mysteriously vanished while en route to Costco stores in the Midwest. The high-value shipment was picked up from a facility in Taunton, Massachusetts, but never reached its destinations in Illinois and Minnesota and investigators believe it wasn’t an accident.

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What Happened?

According to logistics industry officials, the thieves posed as a legitimate carrier to pick up the lobster shipment. They reportedly:

Used spoofed emails and burner phones to impersonate a real transport company.

Showed up with a fake commercial driver’s license and truck branding that looked authentic.

Then simply disappeared with the cargo.

The FBI and local law enforcement are investigating, but, like many cargo theft cases, this one highlights a troubling trend of crime exploiting weaknesses in supply chains.

Why Cargo Thefts Like This Keep Happening

Cargo theft isn’t limited to lobster — it’s a booming criminal enterprise. According to industry data, losses from freight theft in the U.S. are estimated between $15 billion and $35 billion per year, with thieves targeting everything from electronics to food products.
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What makes food and beverage shipments especially tempting:

They don’t have serial numbers or obvious tracking “fingerprints.”

Once goods like seafood leave the cold chain, they can’t be traced back to a legitimate source.

They have high resale value on black markets or secondary channels.

How GPS Trackers Could Make a Difference

Here’s where technology, specifically GPS tracking, could meaningfully reduce theft risks. With a GPS tracker for trailer or shipment, logistics managers would know exactly where the load is. If the cargo is not where it should be, alerts can be triggered instantly.

GPS Tracking Can Be a Game-Changer in Reducing Cargo Theft and Protecting Businesses From Costly, Disruptive Incidents

The Costco lobster theft isn’t just a quirky news item — it’s a stark reminder that even routine logistics face real security challenges. As freight values rise and organized theft techniques evolve, the logistics industry must embrace smarter tracking tech like GPS to stay one step ahead.

Whether you’re a shipper, carrier, or supply-chain manager, enhanced visibility isn’t just innovation it’s risk management.