2 Worcester Men Accused Of Stealing Used Cooking Oil In Auburn

AUBURN, MA — Two Worcester men are facing charges after an early morning report of suspicious activity behind an Auburn restaurant led police to the discovery of an active federal warrant.

Joseph Reyes Rodriguez, 19, and Carlos De Leon, 46, were accused of trying to steal used cooking oil from restaurants on Wednesday, according to the Auburn Police Department. Both were charged with larceny under $1,200, attempted larceny and conspiracy.

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Police responded to Auburn Plaza at about 5:37 a.m. after a T.J. Maxx employee reported seeing two people removing used cooking oil from a dumpster behind Jasmine Restaurant. The pair left in a van before officers arrived, police said.

Officers later found a van behind Chili's on Southbridge Street. The vehicle contained large oil collection containers, including one that was partially filled, according to police.

Neither restaurant had authorized the pair to collect the oil, police said.

Both men gave officers several different names before police identified them, according to the department. Investigators then determined De Leon had an active arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Marshals Service in Virginia.

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