Police: Repeat Meat Thief Goes Back for Seconds

A parolee was charged with felony retail theft when police said he went back to the same store to pilfer steaks, reports said.

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Tyrone J. Alexander, 41, of Chicago, was charged with felony retail theft when he was found with $240 worth of steaks that he allegedly stole from Jewel at 9424 S. Pulaski Road.

responded to a theft in progress by a man who was last seen fleeing the store in a silver Chevy Cavalier with two black plastic bags full of meat around 1:56 a.m. July 12.

According to the report, the night manager said that he had come back from the meat department and saw Alexander filling a cart with "an excessive amount of meat." When the manager saw Alexander allegedly stuffing assorted steaks into two, non-Jewel brand plastic bags, the manager called police.

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Police said that Alexander fled the store without paying for the meat, and entered the passenger side of the Chevy Cavalier.

The car was last seen fleeing northbound on Pulaski. A Hometown cop who had heard the radio dispatch spotted the car traveling eastbound on 87th Street and stopped it at Western Avenue. The Hometown officer observed a steak laying on the back seat as well as two bags of steaks lying between the Alexander’s legs, police said.

The night manager positively identified Alexander who was taken to the Oak Lawn police station. Police released the driver of the Chevy after it was determined that he had never entered the store and did not know that Alexander was going to pilfer meat, reports said.

At the station, Alexander reportedly admitted to conning his friend to take him to Jewel so he could swipe steaks to sell to whoever would buy them in the hood.

Police said that Alexander has multiple convictions for larceny, burglary,  robbery and aggravated battery, and is currently out on parole. Due to his extensive criminal history, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office approved a felony charge of retail theft.

Alexander was also charged with trespassing after violating an order not to return to the store after a previous arrest in January.

Police also contacted the Illinois Department of Corrections’ parole office. Advised that a parole violation warrant would be issued, police were told to contact IDOC during business hours.

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