A meathead assaulted the employee of a Safeway on Noriega Street while trying to shoplift an uncooked chicken on Friday, police said Monday.

The 58-year-old female shoplifter tried to leave the supermarket without paying for the poultry around 4 p.m. The 25-year-old store employee grabbed the chicken from the suspect, but the crook became irate, attacked her, then fled on foot with the chicken.

There has been no arrest. The victim was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

maldax@sfexaminer.com