Two Accused of Stealing Used Cooking Oil From Danbury Eateries: Police

DANBURY, CT — Two New York men were arrested in Danbury last week for stealing cooking oil from two city restaurants, according to Danbury Police.

After being victimized, a restaurant owner staked out his restaurant and saw two men stealing his used oil. He later followed the two men to another restaurant in the city and called police, according to police.

Officers arrested Jose A. Martinez, 44, and Mario J. Garcia, 47, both of Yonkers, NY, at Stew Leonard's and seized a van which had siphoning equipment as well as two large tanks inside.

While the motives of the two men are unclear, used cooking oil has become a commodity for those seeking to transform the oil into biodiesel and other biofuels. With its value increasing, the risk of used cooking oil being stolen has also increased.

Two out of state men were charged in Fairfield in February with stealing hundreds of gallons of cooking oil in Fairfield. The men were also found with a receipt from the New York City Oil Company which showed it had paid $851 for 655 gallons of oil.

Restaurants can sell their used cooking oil, but a 2012 report from The New York Times reports that thefts of cooking oil have become more prevalent, causing states such as California to crack down on the crime.

Both Martinez and Garcia were charged with two counts of larceny in the sixth degree, two counts of criminal trespassing, and conspiracy to commit larceny in the sixth degree. Both are currently held on $1,000 bond individually.

Image: Jose A. Martinez (left) and Mario J. Garcia (right), are accused of stealing used cooking oil from two restaurants in Danbury. Police say the men were found in an unmarked van with siphoning equipment and two large barrels. (via the Danbury Police Department)