Where's the beef? Police believe $15k Southwest Philly meat heist may be work of crime ring

Editor's Note: Philadelphia police initially said 400 cases of beef were stolen. They later changed that number to 40. That information has been updated in the article.

"Where's the beef?!"

It's a phrase that might not be as popular as it once was but, it was likely being uttered on Tuesday morning in Southwest Philadelphia after, police say, someone stole cases of beef from the back of a refrigerated truck.

According to police, officers responded to the 2800 block of S. 63rd Street at about 5:30 a.m. to find a refrigerated tractor-trailer where about 40 cases of beef had been stolen.

Officials claim the beef was valued at upwards of $15,000.

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In an update to this case on Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia Police Captain Jack Ryan of the North East Detectives Unit said that the early morning heist fits the pattern of a number of similar crimes that have happened throughout the city.

In fact, he said that since June 26, 2024, there have been 11 thefts, or attempted thefts, of cargo taken from locations across the city.

"Most of the items taken are frozen meats," said Ryan.

He said that police believe the individuals in this incident were a group of males driving a Dodge Durango and a white SUV.

Also, according to Ryan, the incident happened while the vehicle was unattended.

He also said a recent incident in which a truck driver was hurt in trying to stop a cargo heist of about $30,000 in snow crab from a truck near a Northeast Philadelphia Walmart, was likely also part of this string of crimes.

"It's definitely a crime ring, a group of people," he said. "We have made arrests of members of this group. We believe it's the same group that's still working, it's just widespread."

However, when asked where meat stolen in these crimes, that Ryan said may be connected, is ending up, he said police haven't yet found a secondary market for the goods.

But, he did warn anyone who may come in contact with anyone who may offer these stolen items for purchase, to avoid buying or eating the meat.

Ryan said people could get sick as there's no way to know if the meat was handled in sanitary ways after it was stolen.

An investigation into this incident, he said, is ongoing.