Barbecue Brisket Thievery Ring Busted in Austin

News is still coming in but Austin Police Dept have cracked a brisket thievery ring in town.
 
Three restaurants were allegedly participating, the most famous, in Roadfood terms, being Sam's Barbecue on e.12th st.
 
Sam's became famous in the late 80s when Stevie Ray Vaughan began championing their food in national music magazines.
 
The old bungalow has been a barbecue house since the 1940s with the Mays family running things since the 70s.
 
* News on the tragedies that have befallen the Mays family recently
 
* Picture of a shuttered Sam's
 
* Multiple accounts of what happened leading up to the dustup
 
Here: http://www.scrumptiousche...he-East-Side-Of-Austin

My son who lives in Austin and I were talking about this "caper" this morning. He said the BBQ joint in question wasn't very good anyway. 
 
http://www.kvue.com/news/...stomers-126362998.html

Well, bust my bluebonnets!  I've heard of cutting food cost, but this is ridiculous.

What is HEB?

HEB is a large Austin based grocery store chain. A very good one too I'll add. H-E-B stands for, "Here Everything's Better.
They also own the upscale Central Market stores which are aimed at the (and I hate the word) "yuppie foodie" customer.

Isn't the founder of HEB's name Harry E. Butts?

Are you sure he had a middle initial?

Today is the final day that Sam's can reapply with the health department to get their food service license back.
 
Will report back

The news said the thieves were walking out with the meat hidden on their persons. Now I was born but not yeaterday. How are you gonn stuff a brisket down the front of your jeans. You'd have to go about ten times a day to make it profitable.
My son works for HEB and he says its Howard E Butt.

scrumptiouschef


Isn't the founder of HEB's name Harry E. Butts?

 

National media have descended on East Austin to cover the controversy. Latest is USA Today  http://www.scrumptiousche...-Locker?adminview=true

I find it hard to believe that people shoplifting meat from grocery stores were able
to supply 3 large scale BBQ operations. We all know theft is common in supermarkets but they would be on this as soon as 2 or 3 briskets were missing.
There are cameras everywhere and all suspicious types are watched as soon as they enter a store.

I doubt they did supply the entire amount of meat needed to run the operations. I got the impression that the restaurant would buy whenever the shoplifters brought it around. If the restaurant was able to buy a couple of Briskets a week for 1/3 to 1/2 of their normal cost that was quite a bit of extra profit.

double post

Carole Barasch of Austin/Travis Health Department was quoted in the daily paper today that Sam's Barbecue has submitted a written request to have their food permit license reinstated.

Once again our esteemed city has become a laughing stock. That's why I live in Georgetown. Wonder why the thieves didn't drive a few miles north and sell their ill gotten loot to Rudy's. The bbq couldn't be any worse than it is now.

Once again our esteemed city has become a laughing stock. That's why I live in Georgetown. Wonder why the thieves didn't drive a few miles north and sell their ill gotten loot to Rudy's. The bbq couldn't be any worse than it is now.

   Here in Austin, some people are putting cold things in their pants just to keep cool.  When I enter the store, I do the same thing, but return it back before I leave.... If these guys stole HEB's prepared, cooked and sliced brisket and these places served it, that is a capital crime...... Might tenderize it though.
 
mark

Makes me wonder how you get a ten pound brisket down your trousers. Down' the front, down the back how in gods name did they do it. Guess I'll start watching some guy with a huge ass to see if there's a packer trimmed hunk of beef down there. HAH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA22ouUsBO0
 
video of the affair

It would be easier than you think to get away with the thefts.
 
A large empty diaper bag, could hold several briskets
 
Wearing a baggy over shirt and a tighter expanding shirt, you could fit in 4 to 5 briskets and walk away looking like you just gained some weight.
 
A larger female and a very loose dress could hide many a things under there.
 
You hit different stores a couple times a week, and you have big bucks in stolen meat
 

Sam's has reopened as of two days ago [Tue Aug 16th].
 
We went by there last night and had some brisket fresh off the pit at midnight.
 
Pics and a chat with the owner who still has significant legal trouble in front of him here
 
http://www.scrumptiousche...eopened?adminview=true

scrumptiouschef

Sam's has reopened as of two days ago [Tue Aug 16th].
We went by there last night and had some brisket fresh off the pit at midnight.
Pics and a chat with the owner who still has significant legal trouble in front of him here
http://www.scrumptiousche...eopened?adminview=true

I visited your web site. You have some nice recipes!
If Terrell Pryor can get into the NFL I guess this guy can re-open his BBQ pit! 

Local news outfit KVUE has uncovered video which they in turn shared with Austin Police Dept.
Another alleged brisket thievery op is behind bars now.
http://www.scrumptiousche...et-Case?adminview=true

I just viewed the video.
 
HOLY CRUD IT'S 107 degrees in Austin right now!
 
107 + meat in your pants = all sorts of health issues.

scrumptiouschef


Isn't the founder of HEB's name Harry E. Butts?

No.  H-E-B stands for Howard E. Butt, son of the original store's founder.
 
Like most Texas billionaires, the Butt family is engaged in a "real" enterprise (as opposed to manipulating other people's money).  http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_Charles-Butt-family_W4TW.html
 
I like to think of their Central Market concept as being the "Wegman's of the South".

HEB is a great company. I'm a food industry journalist, and my magazine honored HEB as our Retailer of the Year last fall. Here's the story I helped write: http://www.progressivegrocer.com/inprint/article/id1259/the-heart-of-texas/

Sam's Barbecue has recovered nicely from the scandal. I've eaten there a couple times in the past month. It looks like Brian Mays, owner, is out of hot water. His attorney managed to get the most serious charges tossed. I believe he has one more court appearance.

scrumptiouschef


Isn't the founder of HEB's name Harry E. Butts?

Is he from Boston?