Abbeville Police arrest two men for allegedly stealing more than $10,000 worth of meat from Winn Dixie

On Nov. 12, 2015, Abbeville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division began investigating a complaint of a theft which occurred at Winn Dixie.
An initial investigation revealed that two individuals were stealing boxes of packaged meat from the store. The two individuals were employed by a third party company which is contracted by Winn Dixie. The company is a floor cleaning business.
During the early morning hours of Nov. 13, investigators worked an undercover operation and set up surveillance throughout the store. The two individuals entered the store, where investigators observed them concealing several packages of meat inside cleaning equipment. The two individuals then exited the store with the cleaning equipment that was concealing the meat products.
Investigators confronted the two individuals. The two individuals were taken into custody without incident. The meat products were recovered.
Arrested were Paul M. Trahan, 52 of Lafayette, and Paul M. Francis, 28 of Lafayette. Trahan and Francis were both charged with Theft of Goods. Warrants for Theft of Goods-Felony were obtained on Trahan and Francis for the previous incidents.
The total amount of meat products stolen is in excess of $10,000.
Trahan and Francis were transported to Vermilion Parish Correctional Center on the charges listed.