"an epidemic of beef jerky heists that stretch from Rome, N. Y., to Florida"

"Police report rash of beef jerky heists"

Slim Jim, "the snack food scoundrel, has hit six convenience stores in Cheektowaga alone, one of them twice, and there are reports of similar incidents in Amherst, Kenmore and Tonawanda.

Police said the suspect steals snack food, most of it beef jerky.

Even worse than the crime is the fact that Slim Jim is far from alone in his choice of loot. He is, by some accounts, part of an epidemic of beef jerky heists that stretch from Rome, N. Y., to Florida.