Have you ever stolen a pig? Have you ever thought about thieving some pork? Maybe not you, but pig theft in the Midwest is becoming a real problem.

A well-organized pig theft operation may be why more than 1,000 hogs have been stolen from Midwest farms in the past few weeks.

Many thefts are happening at large animal confinement operations in Iowa and Minnesota, with pigs hauled off by the hundreds in trucks. While such thefts in huge numbers are fairly rare - but the pigs are probably being sold to slaughterhouses as prices have increased in the last year.

700 Hogs Stolen

At least 700 hogs have been stolen recently from facilities in Minnesota.

In Mitchell County, Iowa, around 200 hogs have been stolen from farms. But no arrests have yet been made and no stolen pigs have been found.

The buildings where the hogs are kept at large animal confinement operations generally have side curtains raised and lowered for ventilation.

The thieves can gain entry by cutting through those and through netting that keeps birds out, investigators say.

Figures on Midwest pig thefts

• Nicollet County, Minnesota: 150 hogs worth $30,000
• Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: 560 hogs worth $100,000
• Mitchell County, Iowa: 200 hogs worth $10,000
• TOTAL: 910 hogs worth $140,000

He said it's not unusual for trucks to pull up to the facilities at all hours of the day and night to deliver feed or collect hogs ready for slaughter.

One police officer commented that in his 17 years on the force they had a couple or a half dozen stolen but nothing of this volume and not of this sophistication.’

Again, it seems like theft is increasing in every part of the country. If it is not bolted down, it is a target for theft. Perhaps mandatory theft classes in middle school might curb this scourge of society.

Source: Daily Mail