Massive theft in Australia: 400,000 oysters disappear from a farm in New South Wales

New South Wales police in Australia have launched an investigation into a large-scale theft targeting an oyster farm near the town of Taree, north of Sydney, after approximately 400,000 oysters valued at around 350,000 Australian dollars (roughly 250,000 US dollars) went missing.

According to an official police statement, the stolen goods included about 320 bags designated for oyster cultivation from a farm in the Scotts Creek area of Oxley Island. The theft occurred earlier in the year, but authorities did not receive a report until Tuesday, August 25.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) quoted oyster farmer Ryan Freeman, who said the losses affected about a third of his stock, noting that a significant portion of the oysters had been intended for sale during the Christmas season, one of the busiest periods for demand.

According to the Agence France-Presse, Australian police have urged anyone with information or CCTV footage that could assist the investigation to come forward, while the circumstances of the theft and the identities of those responsible remain under investigation.