Massive Meat Theft Costs Rochester Butcher Shop Thousands

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- An Albert Lea man has been charged in connection to a costly meat theft that victimized a Rochester butcher shop last Fall.

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The Rochester Police Department responded to the theft on Nov. 27, 2023. Officers were shown footage of a pick-up truck pulling up to a refrigerated trailer around 10:30 on the night of Nov. 25, the criminal complaint says.

Two people are seen on camera exiting, cutting the trailer’s lock and stealing more than two-dozen boxes of assorted meats, according to the court document.

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Police shared photos of the suspects and the vehicle with surrounding law enforcement agencies, hoping it would generate a lead in the theft case.

Albert Lea Man Charged for Stealing Meat from Rochester Butcher Shop

The theft was reported at Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe in Rochester. The criminal complaints lists the items reported stolen from the Rochester butcher shop:

four venison orders
half-hog order
13 boxes of assorted mixed meats
one triple box of mixed meats
a large box of assorted meats
12 gourmet boxes of assorted meats

An Albert Lea Police Lt. informed Rochester investigators that he recognized one of the suspects as 45-year-old Dustin Dean Zamora. The officer recognized the truck from a previous meat theft at Hy-Vee and the theft of auto parts in Albert Lea, the complaint says.

Zamora complaint. Olmsted County Court

The Albert Lea officer spotted Zamora driving and stopped the vehicle for not displaying a rear license plate in Albert Lea on Nov. 29. The charging document says the officer spotted a piece of cardboard in the pick-up’s bed that read “venison box” during the traffic stop.

Albert Lea Police Department photo

The charges say Zamora admitted to carrying out the theft with another man and using bolt cutters to access the trailer. He said the stolen meat was scattered at several different locations.

The officer confirmed the piece of cardboard belonged to a box of meat reported stolen from Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe. The local Rochester business estimated the loss from the theft at $5242.29, the complaint says.

Zamora complaint. Olmsted County Court

Zamora has been charged with a count of aiding and abetting felony theft. He’s due to make his first appearance in Olmsted County Court in June.

Court records indicate Zamora was convicted of felony burglary in Hennepin County in 2014. His criminal history dates back to 2004.

The other person alleged to have participated in the theft is not named in the complaint.