2 Wanted For Cooking Oil Theft In Falls Township

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA —Two New Jersey men are being sought by Falls Township Police for allegedly stealing used cooking oil.

Sgt. Christopher Clark told Patch that cooking oil crimes have become quite common in Lower Bucks County over the last several months.

Thieves have found ways to exploit this crime since biodiesel companies and recycling businesses buy it from restaurants.

Michael Molina, 27, of Elizabeth, N.J., and Mauro Molina-Aviles, 58, of Newark, N.J., have been charged with attempted theft, attempted receiving stolen property, and conspiracy.

Police have issued search warrants for their arrests.

In a criminal complaint obtained by Patch, a police officer spotted a white Chevrolet work van parked behind Parkway Pizza on Falls-Tullytown Road and Mill Creek Parkway at 4:50 a.m. on Sept. 25.

While a nearby bagel shop is known to have early-morning staff, the van’s presence at that time seemed suspicious, police said.

Upon approaching the van, the officer identified the driver as Molina and Molina-Aviles as the passenger, the criminal complaint states.

The officer wrote in the complaint that he recognized Molina from a previous stop two years ago and the truck had contained cooking oil.

During the stop this fall, the officer saw a red oil bin next to where the van had been parked and noticed the van’s back windows were heavily tinted and blocked by a blue tarp.

Molina’s answers regarding his presence and the origin of the oil in the van were not adding up, police said.

Further investigation revealed Molina’s claim of dropping off business cards at the closed business and having a contract with a nonexistent “J-Gardens” in Newark to be flimsy, police said.

A search warrant executed on Oct. 7 uncovered the van contained multiple large plastic vats for storing used oil, an industrial pump, and bolt cutters.

Police said they confirmed Molina was not a contracted oil removal service in the shopping center.

Video footage obtained from Parkway Pizza showed Molina exiting the van, inspecting the oil bin, and repositioning the van for oil extraction before the officer arrived, police said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Molina and Molina-Aviles can contact Officer Dean Stecklair at 215-302-3337 or d.stecklair@fallstwppd.com, or anonymously at 215-949-9120 or tiplines@fallstwppd.com.