By BILL NOVAK

An alleged supermarket thief was caught red (meat)-handed Thursday night after he allegedly stuffed three raw t-bone steaks and a jar of mustard down his pants.

Tahija Charles Robinson, 20, of Madison, was tentatively charged with retail theft, resisting a police officer, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property following his arrest at about 7:45 p.m. at Pierce's Market, 2817 N. Sherman Ave.

Madison police said Robinson was spotted by employees in the store, tucking steaks into his trousers.

"An officer arrived on the scene with the suspect still in the store," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "He saw the squad car and tried to get out by rushing at a sliding glass door, knocking the door out of its track."

Two store managers detained Robinson, but the suspect punched one of the managers in the face.

"The officer intervened and during the struggle a bottle of mustard rolled out of the suspect's pants," DeSpain said.

A Taser was used on the suspect to subdue him, before he was put into handcuffs and into the back seat of the squad car.

"The officer went back to the store to get statements from the managers, and when he got back to the squad, there was a t-bone steak on the floor of the car," DeSpain said.

The officer searched the suspect's pants legs and found the rest of the missing meat -- two more t-bone steaks.