A farmer's van filled with produce was carjacked in Northeast Philadelphia, resulting in approximately $7,000 in losses for the small business owner. The incident occurred Sunday when the driver of Hayday Farms' van was heading to the Headhouse Farmers’ Market.
According to Hank Whittenberg, owner of the Doylestown-based farm, the driver was stopped at a red light when a barefoot individual wearing scrubs allegedly boarded the truck. The suspect then punched the driver in the face, stole the van, and discarded the driver's phone as they fled. Whittenberg stated the incident left his employee with a black eye and the van, which he described as the lifeline of the operation, was significantly damaged.
The van was discovered the following day by Bensalem Police Department officers at the Inn of the Dove. It was found ransacked, with spoiled produce strewn across the floor and wires torn from the dashboard. The stolen goods included the van itself, thousands of dollars worth of produce such as cantaloupes and watermelons, honey, scales, tents, tables, and clothing.
"We're a tiny little farm. We don't have a huge team. We don't have a lot of equipment. The farmers' markets are everything for us," Whittenberg told WPVI News. He emphasized that the loss of the truck and market equipment is a severe blow to his small business.
In response to the incident, Whittenberg launched a GoFundMe campaign that surpassed its $10,000 goal. He expressed deep gratitude for the community's support, stating that all funds raised beyond the goal will be donated to food assistance markets. Whittenberg indicated his determination to get the farm back on its feet and resume operations at local markets.
Northeast Philadelphia has been identified as an area with a high volume of vehicle thefts. Crime statistics from late last year showed Philadelphia was on track to exceed its 2023 car theft total, with approximately 10,900 reported by November.