Texas Man Goes Viral After He's Arrested and Accused of Stealing $1700 Worth of Brisket By Ashley Vega

A Texas man was accused of allegedly stealing more than $1,700 worth of brisket from grocery stores across Central Texas during a weekend-long spree. Police said the case drew widespread attention after authorities shared details of the arrest on social media.

Armando Salazar, 51, of Baytown, was arrested on Dec. 6 and charged with theft under $2,500 with two or more previous convictions, according to police. He is currently being held on a $2,500 bond.

Authorities say Salazar allegedly targeted multiple stores over the course of a single weekend. Police report that the thefts include brisket taken from H-E-B and Walmart locations in Buda, along with stores in Manor and Austin.

As officers began connecting the incidents, the case took on an unusual profile. The Buda Police Department later referred to the investigation as the “Brisket Caper” in a Facebook post that quickly spread online.

In the post, police noted that the alleged thefts occurred while the city was hosting seasonal events. “On Saturday, December 6th, while many of us were enjoying Budafest activities, Mr. Salazar decided not to partake in our wonderful food vendors on Main Street and in City Park,” the department wrote.

Instead, authorities said Salazar focused on grocery stores selling high-value cuts of meat. Police alleged that he “stole over $1,700 worth of brisket from H-E-B (Buda), Walmart Buda, and stores in Manor and Austin.”

After identifying a pattern, Buda officers alerted neighboring departments about the suspected spree. That coordination led Kyle Police Department officers to locate Salazar inside their local H-E-B.

Police believed he was attempting to steal meat again when officers found him in the store. In their post, the department joked that he was “likely trying to continue to purloin the sirloin.”

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The lighthearted phrasing helped propel the post beyond a routine arrest announcement. “🥩 Brisket Caper Caught! 🔒” the department captioned the update shared on Facebook.

“Once we notified the Kyle Police Department about The Brisket Caper, he was located by KPD officers at their HEB,” the post stated.

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The department concluded the message with hashtags highlighting cooperation and service, including “#teamworkmakesthedreamwork” and “#servicebeforeself.”

Salazar was booked on charges with theft under $2,500 with two or more prior theft convictions, with bond set at $2,500, per the Buda Police Department records.