PORT ST. LUCIE — A man accused of pilfering poultry and cash from a Popeyes in Port St. Lucie has police crying fowl, I mean, foul.

The case began about 11:25 a.m. Sept. 2 at a Popeyes in the 100 block of Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard.

According to information from Port St. Lucie police, the alleged burglar strutted in and went to the cash register area where he “placed a chair under the surveillance camera and spray painted the camera lens.”

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It could be said the thief didn’t wing it, because he had the forethought to bring the paint.

He evidently wanted more than a leg, breast or thigh because investigators report he absconded with “cash, multiple cases of chicken, bags of chicken batter and a tray of chicken.”

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It wasn’t immediately clear how long the man had free range, er, rein, over the place, nor was it known where he ranks in the pecking order of thieves.

The man likely didn’t swipe enough to put a chicken in every pot, but the haul may have amounted to more than chicken feed.

The burglar probably didn’t get a coveted Popeyes “Chicken Sandwich,” which debuted Aug. 12 at a cost of $3.99.

That’s because after an online frenzy apparently sparked by a Chick-fil-A tweet and an ensuing controversy involving whether Popeyes or Chick-fil-A has the tastiest chicken sandwich, Popeyes sold out of its offering.

A notation on the “Chicken Sandwich” area of the Popeyes website states “…Be Back Soon!”

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The “Chicken Sandwich,” which is a sandwich made with chicken, is described by Popeyes as a “tender all-white meat chicken breast fillet, marinated in an authentic blend of Louisiana seasonings, then hand battered and breaded in our all new buttermilk coating. Served with crisp barrel cured pickles and Classic or Spicy Mayonnaise, served on a warm and toasted buttery brioche bun.”

Meanwhile, the accused Port St. Lucie Popeyes chicken burglar is described not as resembling a fox in a hen house but as being of medium build and wearing jeans, a black hooded shirt and dark socks and slides.

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