Bandits

We took our eggplant bushes out of the greenhouse to bask in what passes for summer sun here at the 48th parallel.  The eggplant fruit grew.  They were ready to harvest... at least that's what some local varmint(s) decided.  Night before last, all the fruit that was ready just disappeared.

The immature fruit was untouched.  The six tomato vines that are immediately adjacent to the eggplant bushes spot on the deck were untouched.  Those tomato vines are struggling in this climate, but they have fruit on them... several very nice, nearly ripe, red tomatoes.

Perhaps the varmints only like eggplant?

We're having trouble figuring out what sort of bandit would snag eggplants.

• Not rats.  The fruit wasn't gnawed, it was plucked and taken elsewhere for consumption.  
• Not deer.  The deer have (so far at least) not scaled the fence to come onto the deck.  Plus, very near the ill-fated eggplants, there are several sunflowers, and the deer just love those.  Plus, the deer don't pluck fruit; they eat the plant, the fruit, etc., from the top down.  
• Angel thought perhaps it was raccoons, but do those bandits eat eggplant?  My old friend, The Agriculturist, says that raccoons would have to be very hungry to eat eggplant.  Some of our neighbors keep chickens, and alas, the raccoons are seldom hungry.
• Crows?  (aka "flying rats" as the locals not-so-fondly call them).  Crows are crafty enough, I suppose, but it seems a stretch.

Anyway, the eggplant bushes are now safely ensconced in the greenhouse.  We learn, little-by-little, what works here at the edge of the continent.

Ah.  The sun has peeked out from behind the clouds.  The garden wakes, smiles.  The sun hides again... probably 'til afternoon.