▲ A U.S. grocery store
Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have launched an investigation after more than 10,000 bottles of whiskey were stolen in broad daylight in Philadelphia, the New York Times reported on June 7 (local time).
The theft occurred at a freight warehouse in Philadelphia on the afternoon of Friday, June 5.
At the time of the incident, a driver arrived in a large trailer and presented identification. After warehouse staff copied the ID, they loaded 10,800 bottles of "Noble Oak" bourbon whiskey onto the trailer.
The value of the whiskey loaded onto the trailer amounts to $500,000 (approximately 771 million KRW).
The trailer, carrying over 10,000 bottles of whiskey, disappeared after leaving the warehouse.
A21 Wine & Spirits, the company that owns Noble Oak bourbon whiskey, stated that the shipment did not reach its intended destination and that they were victims of an organized cargo theft operation.
Rob Koch, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Apogee 21 Holdings, the parent company of A21, pointed out in an interview with the New York Times that "the trailer driver did not present a purchase order," noting a lapse in security procedures.
"We suspect this was a cybercrime rather than an inside job," said COO Koch, adding, "Sometimes other companies hijack computer systems to intercept cargo."
He warned that the stolen whiskey could be distributed through unauthorized channels, secondary wholesalers, or online markets, and urged anyone who receives suspicious offers for large quantities of Noble Oak bourbon whiskey to report it.
The Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI's Philadelphia field office are investigating the whiskey theft but have not disclosed details regarding the case.
In the United States, cargo theft involving beverages and food, which are easier to offload than expensive electronics, is reportedly on the rise.
CargoNet, a company specializing in cargo theft prevention and recovery, estimated that losses from cargo theft crimes last year surged by approximately 60% from the previous year, reaching $725 million (1.118 trillion KRW).
However, industry experts point out that reported cargo theft cases represent only a fraction of the total.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the FBI estimate that the annual losses from cargo theft could reach tens of billions of dollars (tens of trillions of KRW).
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.