Spokane police arrest man they contend led an organized ring of grocery store meat thieves

Spokane cops arrest alleged meat thief ringleader

SPOKANE, Wash. — Police have arrested a man they contend led an organized ring of thieves who stole meat from area grocery stories. Police suspect the man, 37, led a group of people who would steal six to ten packages of meat at a time from various grocery stores.

The suspects would take the meat to bars throughout Spokane and sell it to patrons, at half the retail price. Police said the suspects would steal meat from three or four stores a day, five days a week. Each thief made between $40 and $150 a day.

Police said the suspect may have been conducting this meat theft business for the past three years.