Stolen Sacramento

The custom-made setup cost nearly $10K.

The custom-made setup cost nearly $10K.

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The custom-made setup cost nearly $10K.

UPDATE (May 31, 2023): The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said Will Bradley's grill and pit was found, and that a person was arrested. The identification of the person has not yet been released.

Read our earlier story below:

Standing grill-side barbecuing is where Will Bradley feels at home.

Customers find him barbecuing each weekend at a pop-up stand in the Foothill Farms area of Sacramento County, just off Elkhorn and Andrea boulevards, preparing their favorites like tri-tip and the spicy jerk chicken.

A self-described people person, operating Bradley's Barbecue and Catering allows Bradley to connect with people as they experience the food he creates.

"I just love the looks on people's faces and the constant feedback," Bradley said. "That's what does it for me."

The main tool of his trade, however, is now gone. Thieves dealt Bradley a raw deal – stealing his pit, "his baby" as he calls it, from the place where he parks it near a friend's house.

"My mouth just dropped," he said. "I was kinda hoping it was a sick joke someone was playing."

A custom-made, reverse-flow smoker with direct-heat grilling capabilities. It's a setup that cost nearly $10,000.

The larger grill allowed him to keep up with the increasing demand for his food, but now he's using an older, smaller grill he calls "Old Faithful" to get by.

"I can't keep up with my demand with Old Faithful," Bradley said. "But I'm definitely gonna try."

Sacramento County Sheriff's property crimes detectives are now investigating the theft, according to information posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page.

Bradley also put plans to celebrate his five-year business anniversary on the back burner while he figures out how to recoup the loss and stay afloat.

"The bills don't stop, so I have to keep cooking," said Bradley.

Now he's sending a message to whoever took his pit.

"It's my livelihood. Just bring her back," he said. "It's a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes. I'm definitely a person who knows about second chances."

Bradley is also not letting the setback keep him from serving the community and the loyal customers who love his barbecue.

"It'll just slow it down," he said. "I love it, so I'm gonna keep doing it."

Bradley's Barbecue is offering a reward to anyone who helps find the missing grill. If you see it, Bradley is asking you to call him at 415-504-5648.

They've also set up this GoFundMe page to help replace items that were stolen along with the grill.