A brisket thief is afoot:  after two days of marinating, rubbing, smoking, and careful tending, the Pepper family of Houma couldn’t believe that someone would steal barbecue right out of their backyard.  An unknown party lifted the nearly-done brisket from their backyard smoker last weekend.  Adding insult to injury:  the whole smoked brisket was intended as a pricey birthday treat for recently-laid-off Brandi Pepper.