Used Cooking Oil Theft Is Hitting Restaurants Across New York

New York State Police have issued a warning regarding the theft of used cooking oil. If you operate a restaurant in New York State you should be aware of the latest trend in illegal activity, stealing your used cooking oil.

I have heard of the 'dine and dash' where a restaurant customer eats the meal they ordered and then dash out the door before paying. That crime has been around for decades but stealing used cooking oil? That is a new one to me. Here's why they are doing it.

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According to Food & Wine, 'grease thieves' as they are known, steal the used cooking oil and resell this valuable grease on the black market. The used cooking oil is then turned into renewable biofuels like biodiesel.

New York State Police recently had several cases involving suspects siphoning used cooking oil from restaurant storage tanks. Investigators believe additional businesses may have been targeted but were never reported.

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On Thursday July 9th Troopers from State Police Deposit were dispatched to the River Run Restaurant in the town of Sanford for a report of a larceny.

A male was observed in a commercial Ford Van with a green hose connected to the restaurant’s used cooking containers, pumping oil into the van. When Troopers arrived, the restaurant owner had blocked in the van from leaving the property.

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On July 18th Troopers from State Police Endwell were dispatched to Lupo’s Char-Pit in the town of Union for a report of two men attempting to steal used cooking oil.

An employee confronted the two men who were in a rental box truck bearing New Jersey license plates. The men left the area but were stopped by Troopers and members of the Broome County Sheriff’s Department on Interstate 81 in the town of Binghamton.