100,000 Eggs Worth $40,000 Stolen From Trailer in Pennsylvania, Police Say

The theft comes as the price of eggs has soared amid an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

In a file photograph, a customer shops for eggs at a grocery store in San Rafael, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Police are investigating the theft of about 100,000 eggs from the back of a distribution trailer in central Pennsylvania on Saturday, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The alleged theft of the eggs, valued at about $40,000, occurred around 8:40 p.m. at Pete and Gerry’s Organics LLC in Antrim Township, Franklin County, according to a police report.

Trooper First Class Megan Frazer, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, said on Wednesday that authorities have received no leads on the theft.

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

Police are following up with potential witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage to help identify the perpetrator, Frazer said.

Pete and Gerry’s is a family-run farm that was established in the early 1980s and transitioned to selling organic eggs in 1997, according to its official website. It currently partners with more than 300 family farms across 15 states.

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for the egg supplier said it is aware of the recent incident in Franklin County and is “actively working with local law enforcement to investigate.”

“We take this matter seriously and are committed to resolving it as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said. “Due to the ongoing investigation we cannot comment any further on this matter.”

The theft comes amid an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza—commonly known as bird flu—in the United States, which has forced farmers to slaughter millions of chickens, leading to a shortage and higher egg prices.

Egg Prices Soar

More than 150 million poultry birds have been affected across all 50 states since avian influenza was first detected in a commercial flock in 2022.

The number of birds impacted by the virus has also risen in recent months, with roughly 7 million affected in November 2024, 18 million in December 2024, and more than 23 million affected in January 2025, according to USDA data.

As a result, prices of the household staple have more than doubled since the summer of 2023, with the average price per dozen eggs nationwide hitting $4.15 in December, although that is not quite as high as the $4.82 record set two years ago.

The USDA said the price of eggs is expected to increase another 20.3 percent in 2025.

The egg theft comes after the first U.S. human fatality linked to bird flu was reported in Louisiana last month.

The Louisiana Department of Health said in a statement that the patient was over the age of 65, was “reported to have underlying medical conditions,” and contracted H5N1 after being exposed to wild birds and a “non-commercial backyard flock.”

Officials said the individual died weeks after being hospitalized. They added that there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission.

A total of 67 cases of bird flu infections in humans have been confirmed in the United States since 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC said the current public health risk remains low. Health officials urged anyone in contact with sick or dead animals, particularly wild birds and poultry, to take precautions, including wearing respiratory and eye protection, as well as gloves.

The Epoch Times has contacted state police and a spokesperson for Pete & Gerry’s for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.