Two men stole 19 crates of lobsters worth USD 9,000 (EUR 8,134) from Quahog Lobster in Harpswell, Maine, U.S.A. and Maggie’s Seafood in South Bristol, Maine.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources said that Troy J. Woodman, 34, of Warren, Maine and Shane Hall, 29, of Portland, Maine were charged with theft after a month-long investigation by the Maine Marine Patrol.
“We take cases like this very seriously,” Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish said. “Theft of this magnitude deprives hard working, law abiding Mainers of their livelihood and undermines our coastal economy.”
The thefts took place between late September and mid-October. An investigation into the sale and purchase of the stolen lobsters is ongoing.
Warren is in Cumberland County Jail and Hall is in Knox County Jail, facing six other charges including aggravated assault and kidnapping for allegedly forcing a woman into his car as she walked home in Rockland in late September.
Hall has been charged with one count of Class D theft and one count of Class C theft for allegedly stealing lobsters from Quahog Lobster on 25 and 27 September. Woodman has been charged with one count of Class C theft for allegedly stealing lobsters from Quahog Lobster on 17 September. Additional theft charges against Woodman are expected for thefts that occurred at Quahog Lobster on 24, 25, 27 September and 6 October, and at Maggie’s Seafood in South Bristol on 9 and 16 October.
In Maine, Class C crimes carry a penalty of up to five years in jail and a fine of USD 5,000 (EUR 4,519) while Class D crimes are punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of USD 2,000 (EUR 1,808).
