Aventura Store Owner Seeks Suspect After Man Caught Stuffing Steak and Brisket Down His Pants
AVENTURA, Fla. — Surveillance video from a South Florida supermarket shows a man concealing expensive cuts of meat inside his pants before attempting to leave the store, prompting the owner to speak out as food theft rises alongside soaring meat prices. The incident occurred at Kosher Kingdom, located at 3017 NE 199th St., where store cameras captured the suspect moving through the aisles before hiding a nearly $100 cowboy steak and other items inside his clothing. Store owner Phil Einhorn said the man appeared to wait for an opening before acting.
“He came over here, looked around to see if anybody was looking and he shoved it in his pants,” Einhorn said.
According to Einhorn, the suspect’s oversized pants appeared deliberately chosen to conceal merchandise.
“Big, big, big pants. I think they’re made for stealing,” he said. “They’re blocked at the bottom, so it doesn’t go through.”
Theft Caught on Camera
Video shows a store employee walking past as the suspect slips the steak into his pants. In addition to the meat, the man also took wine and a brisket, Einhorn said. At one point, the suspect returned the steak, leading staff to initially believe the incident had ended.
“We were shocked,” Einhorn said. “When he gave back the one steak, I thought, ‘OK, I got it back, what he stole.’ And then when we found out there was this thing in his pants, it was unbelievable. It’s just shocking.”
Store employees followed the suspect as he left the store and crossed the street to a nearby grocery store. One employee, who was on break at the time, spotted the remaining stolen items.
“He had brisket and wine,” Einhorn said. “My employee called the cops and we got everything back.”
By the time police arrived, the suspect had fled on foot. No injuries were reported, and all merchandise was recovered. Einhorn said officers obtained a description of the suspect and are reviewing the surveillance footage.
Rising Prices, Tight Margins
Einhorn said the theft highlights the pressure facing small, family-run grocery stores as food prices continue to climb.
“Meat prices continue to go up. It’s not us that’s raising it. It’s the whole industry,” he said. “Our margins are very tiny.”
Kosher Kingdom has been operating as a family business for three generations, Einhorn said, making losses from theft particularly damaging.
“We want to let people know that you can’t come in and steal. It’s not right,” he said. “We’re a family business trying to make it.”
Police have not announced any arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing.
