ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Who says toothpicks are not valuable?

Police in Georgia are trying to figure out who stole about 400,000 toothpicks worth nearly $3,000 from a manufacturer in Athens.

Police tell the Athens Banner-Herald (http://bit.ly/KGnzJJ ) someone took six cases from Armond's Manufacturing Company Inc. about two weeks ago, and another seven cases disappeared last weekend.

Each case contains 288 packages of 100 toothpicks.

Police say there were no signs of forced entry. The owner believes a current or former employee might be responsible.

Two employees told the owner they saw a man selling containers of Armond's toothpicks at a flea market last weekend.