Two juicy pork belly racks of meat were stolen from Filipino restaurant while being seasoned.
Police are mystified over the third smash and grab theft targeting a Long Branch Filipino restaurant of its delicious and spicy pork belly meats.
B’s Sizzling Kitchen, on Horner Avenue, was back in business hours after the August 15 theft of two large pork bellies which were being seasoned in the kitchen area. The barbequed meat was to be sold the next day.
Security camera footage show a man entering the building and walking back to the kitchen area.
A brazen meat snatcher broke the front door window of this restaurant to steal their uncooked meat.
Employees of the popular restaurant said the thief knew exactly what he wanted and where to find the expensive meat, which they estimated as worth about $500 or more.
They said the damage to three window frames and smashed glass cost in the thousands of dollars.
One of the owners of the Kitchen said there have been no arrests in any of the pork belly thefts.
“We know our food was good but we didn’t know it was that good,” owner Benedict Lucido, better known as Chef B, wrote on social media.
The eatery is known for its signature Cebu Lechon and kamayan menu of fresh seafood and grilled meats.
B’s Sizzling Kitchen window has been repaired and pork is again on the table. There has been no arrests.
“I know our food is good, but really, there’s no need to break in,” according to the chef. “You could save us the hassle and anxiety of cleaning up, replacing the door, etc., — just ask nicely next time.”
The place was busy with customers when we visited. The food does look and smelled tasty.
Also broken into recently was a hamburger restaurant on Brown’s Line, near Evans Avenue. There has been no arrests in that incident.
Security camera image of meat thief rummaging through the kitchen.
There were a similar rash of thefts last year when about a dozen small businesses were robbed in similar smash and grab type burglaries.
The thefts are similar since they usually involve the smashing of a glass door pane. A security camera obtained images of a suspect who is being tracked down by police.
Some area residents are whispering about the timing of the pork belly thefts and if the meat was possibly for resale at a Taste of Manila festival that wrapped up August 18 in the Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue area.