The cops have raided three Austin restaurants for allegedly buying stolen meat and serving it to customers. Those three Austin restaurants include Sam's BBQ La Morenita, and Willie's BBQ.
The Austin County Health and Human Services Department closed down these three Austin restaurants as they were citing a public health threat. This operation was known as 'Operation Meat Locker' and it began when HEB complained the Austin Police Department about a increasing number of meat thefts at stores in Central Texas and statewide. The thives would would hide the meat in their pants and walk long distances or ride the bus to sell the meat to these Austin restaurants. An informer told Austin police that three Austin restaurants were into buying the meat inspite of knowing that it was stolen.