Yoshitaka Mizuno, owner of the Unagi no Mizuno restaurant, called authorities in Kani, Gifu Prefecture, Sunday to report he thought someone stole the eels, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Mizuno received the eels in a delivery from Isshikicho, Aichi Prefecture, the report said.

Yomiuri Shimbun said the eels would would have been worth nearly $3,000 after they were cooked and prepared for restaurant guests.