PHILADELPHIA — Police are searching for a group of 10 to 12 masked men who stole multiple pallets of frozen beef from a parked tractor-trailer early Monday morning in Northeast Philadelphia, according to investigators.

The cargo theft happened around 2 a.m. near Norcom Road and Red Lion Road by the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, according to WPVI. The truck’s driver, Kurt Landry, was asleep when he heard unusual noises coming from the trailer.

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“The reefer unit started going up and down, and I felt the truck moving,” Landry said. “I pulled the curtain, and sure enough, there were four vehicles back there and a bunch of guys pulling stuff out of the trailer.”

Landry grabbed a baseball bat, jumped out of the cab, and chased the suspects off. They escaped in four vehicles, leaving behind a trail of boxes and frozen meat scattered across the parking lot.

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Police say the group stole four pallets of beef. The trailer was damaged during the theft. No injuries were reported.

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Cargo thefts have surged in Philadelphia in recent years. Police say thieves often target truckers while they sleep, making off with high-value loads such as meat, seafood, TVs, liquor, and other goods. Meat is a frequent target because of its high resale value.

Landry had been hauling the load from Tyson Foods in Nebraska and was scheduled to deliver to Quaker Valley Foods at 5 a.m.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to identify the suspects. Police also confirmed this was one of two cargo thefts under investigation over the weekend.

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