Stolen meat dumped after traffic stop bust in Spring

A Montgomery County Constable's Office Precinct 3 sergeant uncovered more than $1,100 worth of stolen meat in a car during a Dec. 16, 2018, traffic stop. A Montgomery County Constable's Office Precinct 3 sergeant uncovered more than $1,100 worth of stolen meat in a car during a Dec. 16, 2018, traffic stop. Photo: Montgomery County Constable's Office Precinct 3 Photo: Montgomery County Constable's Office Precinct 3 Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stolen meat dumped after traffic stop bust in Spring 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A repeat thief from Houston is behind bars for another mis-steak.

Police in Montgomery County skewered 52-year-old Michael Cordova with felony theft charge Sunday after he was caught with $1,100 in allegedly pilfered beef, pork and shrimp.

Cordova and a pal were pulled over after a Montgomery County Constable’s Office Precinct 3 sergeant spied someone in their ride toss an aluminum can out the window, according to a news release. A report of stolen meat was made from a Kroger grocery store on Riley Fuzzel Road as the sergeant grilled the duo over the chucked can.

The license plate on their car matched the vehicle involved in the meaty caper in Spring, police said.

A search of the car uncovered a trunk packed with raw grub, according to authorities. The sergeant also found a fatty roast stuffed in the glove box, a pair of T-bone steaks under the driver’s seat and a bottle of wine to wash the bounty down.

Cordova was arrested in connection to the theft while his unidentified driver was temporarily released due to “previous medical issues that needed to be addressed,” according to police. An arrest warrant for the driver is still simmering.

The meat, which included 17 bags of shrimp, four racks of ribs and more than two dozen steaks, was returned to the Kroger where a seasoned employee dished on the juicy heist that hit at least three stores, including his. He said they had no choice but to dump the spoiling flesh.

“It went into the trash unfortunately,” the employee said, declining to identify himself. “I donate everything that’s edible, but you can’t take a chance serving food like that.”

The staffer said meat thefts like this one are a daily woe.

“I’ve seen them in pants, bras. They get creative,” he said. “You can just stuff anything you want into your pants and walk out the door.”

Cordova was convicted of theft in 1991, 2004 and most recently served 180 days behind bars in 2017 after stealing an inedible five-gallon bucket of paint, according to Harris County court records.

nicole.hensley@chron.com