Thief swipes shopping cart full of meat from Kroger
Pittsfield Township police are investigating a theft Friday from Kroger when a man stole a shopping cart full of meat worth $150.
The man walked into Kroger, 3200 Carpenter Road, about 10:30 a.m. Friday and filled a shopping cart with meat, said Gordy Schick, deputy director of public safety. He then simply walked out of the store and loaded the meat into a silver 2002 Chevrolet four-door vehicle and drove away, Schick said.
“He literally loaded up a shopping cart with as much meat as he could put in the cart and left the store, passing all pay stations, then drove away” Schick said.
Schick said it’s a crime that doesn’t come around often, but Pittsfield Township police have investigated similar incidents at the same store in the past. He said one time someone stole a cart full of Budweiser beer, and another time someone stole a cart full of lobsters.
Such a crime is typically carried out by teams of 2 people, Schick said.
“One person is loading up the cart, and there’s a diversion that takes place to distract the people at the front by the check out,” he said. “The other person pushes the cart to a waiting vehicle.”
The suspect is described as a black man, in his 20s, about 5-foot-10 inches tall with a medium build. The model of the vehicle was not included in the police report, Schick said.
The answer to the obvious question — What is someone going to do with $150 in meat? — isn’t exactly clear, Schick said.
“It could be sold off at a bargain price for those interested in purchasing meat at a lower dollar amount,” he said.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
BhavanaJagat
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
If the thief could get a chance to read my comment, I would like to suggest to him to stop filling gas in his car. He must rather walk to Kroger, buy a gallon jug of milk, one dozen eggs, and two loaves of bread. These items are priced very low and Kroger puts them on sale all the time. He and his children if any can easily live with these simple and cheap items of food for fairly long time until he can afford to buy other food items. He must speak to people who fought battles in remote jungles. I have memories of living with very little food and was never hungry or missed anything. I was happy to spend a whole day with a can of condensed milk, Kraft cheese, biscuits, nuts, and tea. This theft speaks about greed and not that of hunger or poverty.
Ann English
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 10:39 p.m.
The other comment posters got me wondering when was the last time I bought chicken or beef at Kroger? Last year, unless it was in the form of lean franks. Turkey franks this month or last for sure. But for months, Busch's was selling family packs of boneless chicken for $1.49 per pound on Fridays, so I bought it there. Now they're selling ground beef on Saturdays in family packs for $1.99 per pound, and I got some well before the night football game in town. Sirloin at Meijer, ground turkey at Aldi, usually Hiller's has the best boneless chicken sales for two weeks at a time, but fin fish is more alluring at Kroger than any land animal meat.
smokeblwr
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
The joke is on the thief since Kroger meat is grain fed and doesn't contain the necessary amino acids for proper muscle growth.
RoboLogic
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.
It said the cart was "full" of meat. Was it all Bologna?
Tom
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
I know where the thief is going: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCCaK_Gif0" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCCaK_Gif0</a>
lindsay erin
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 3:53 p.m.
This is devastating news. How will Kroger deal with this crime?
RJA
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
I would say, EAT it. Doubt that it would be sold. I don't shop at Krogers anymore. (especially Whittaker Rd)
Tom Joad
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
The rest of us Kroger shoppers will pick up the tab for it
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
I join in the laughter here but we should remember the not so funny fact that all large retailers have significant losses due to theft. At one level, all products are money - pure and simple. That meat is raised, it's processed, shipped and put up for sale. A long chain involving many workers who are EARNING a living. It's not just the anonymous companies losing money - workers would not be paid if all products were stolen. So instead, the retailers charge a little extra across the board to us - so we're all paying for these funny scampers by small time thieves. This is one of those stories with novelty appeal. But it doesn't convey the above seriousness nor does it mention that there are far more incidents where a single item or a couple items are pocketed. The majority of us are honest and make no effort to defeat theft prevention measures. But, every day, there are dishonest people taking high priced items out of stores without paying.
Rici
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
I didn't interpret the joke making as diminishing the losses due to retail theft. Rather, most people are poking fun at this comment: "The answer to the obvious question — What is someone going to do with $150 in meat? — isn't exactly clear, Schick said." And/or at the implication that a 'full' cart of meat would be worth only $150.
YpsiLivin
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
"The answer to the obvious question — What is someone going to do with $150 in meat? — isn't exactly clear, Schick said." Ok, I'll bite. We buy our meat by the side, so when we buy meat, we spend a lot more than $150. What I would do with $150 in meat is stick it in my freezer and then eat it piece by piece. As for the value of the beef, if $150 will fill up a cart with beef, either the carts at Kroger are small or Kroger carries beef of questionable quality. The last time I priced out beef from the case (at Meijer, granted), the cut I was looking at (flank steak) was $7.19 per pound. (We had portobellos that night...)
Laurel
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
Perhaps he was just making a dress...
tdw
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
I just figured out you comment.Wasn't it that freak Lady Ga Ga that did that ?
Buster W.
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
A meat poncho, maybe?
Arboriginal
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 4:15 p.m.
Like
Edwin Gustafson
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Laziest cattle rustlers ever.
Polyjuce123
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.
Just a guy who's food stamps got cancelled by the state in the most recent round of cuts by Synder....look for more of this unfortunately.
Bill
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
It was simply Bush's push to cut taxes for his wealthy friends and the ongoing Republican claim that these friends create jobs and therefore can not be taxed like the middle class that result in such situations. As long as you are among the wealthy, then you should have no issue or concern with what has happened in American.
tdw
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
You are so correct.But you left out the Bush's , Regan ,Republicans and the Tea Party.We all know that they are the reasons for our problems right ? If I recall there was no crime or criminals before them
Conservative
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
Be on the lookout for another person loading a cart full of BBQ sauce.
xmo
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
Thank You Kroger for Feeding the Homeless! I wonder if others stores with partner with Kroger in this "Feed The Homeless" campaign?
Jimmy McNulty
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.
I find it hard to believe that Kroger, the tire store next door, or the Kroger Gas station does not have a surveillance camera that could capture the license plate number and/or the thieves in action.
pvitaly
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Even if they got the license plate #, it is probably a car from Detroit and nothing will be done about it.
WalkingJoe
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 12:19 p.m.
I have to agree that it seems kind of a low figure for a shopping cart full of meat at Kroger. I think Kroger has good meat but it is pricey. Someone my wife works with turned us on to a meat store out near Jackson and they have great prices and better meat than Kroger. Even with gas prices being what they are it's worth the drive because you buy in bulk and they cut and wrap so you can freeze it. If someone stole a shopping cart of meat there it would be worth more than $150.
WalkingJoe
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
@GoblueBeatOSU, the stores name is McAuliffe's Meat Market. If you are on Facebook they have a link with their address and they list their weekly specials.
jns131
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
If I remember correctly I think there is one out in Dearborn as well. I think someone mentioned one near Dexter as well. We do not shop meat at Krogers. They are pricey Wal Mart and Meijer seem to be better priced.
jcj
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
You think Kroger meat is pricey? Compare it to Busch's which is always higher!
GoblueBeatOSU
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
So what is the store? Where is it?
Richard
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:13 a.m.
Is it possible to figuratively load up a shopping cart ?
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.
"The answer to the obvious question — What is someone going to do with $150 in meat? — isn't exactly clear, Schick said." Wow. There are these things, called "freezers", you know..... I'm not doubting it could be sold, but as has been said before, $150 is not necessarily a huge amount of meat. It'll probably be dinner for the next month or so.
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
You made me giggle, cheese man.
Ricardo Queso
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:44 a.m.
He took just enough to meat his needs.
Les Gov
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 10:09 a.m.
"He literally loaded up a shopping cart with as much meat as he could put in the cart and left the store, passing all pay stations, then drove away" Schick said."...I don't go to Kroger anymore. Those carts at Kroger must be very small. $150 of meat isn't much these days. What, seven rack of ribs? 10 steaks, maybe less. Let's say the steaks went for $15/lb...which is cheap these days....that's only 10lbs of steak....why do you even need a cart...... I mean...I cook more than $150 of meat on my grill at one time.
thecompound
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
Please let me know the next time your are grilling, I'll bring a side dish ;)
jcj
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 12:33 p.m.
Obviously you are not shopping at Kroger if your meat cost $15 a pound! $5 a pound would be a high average.
Jeff Gaynor
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 10:45 a.m.
I agree that $150 is a low estimate. Then again, most people can't afford meat at $15/lb - and Kroger sells most meat for closer to $5/lb or less.