Man allegedly steals used fryer oil from Eureka restaurants

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Man allegedly steals used fryer oil from Eureka restaurants

Eureka Police suspect a 32-year-old Allentown, Pa., man stole 257.93 gallons of used cooking oil worth $869.79 from four restaurants. The man was arrested in Bartonville, Ill., and was being held on warrants, police reported.



An Imo’s Pizza employee reported the theft at about 7:20 a.m. Oct. 9 from the restaurant, 167 Eureka Towne Center Drive. Surveillance video showed a white 2009 Ford E-250 drive to the business and the used cooking oil that was placed behind the building was taken, the report said.



The cooking oil was placed in locked cans that belong to Ace Grease Service of Millstadt, Ill. The Ace Grease Service director of security said the used oil is worth nearly as much as diesel fuel, according to the report.



A total of 77.55 gallons of oil worth $261 were stolen from the Imo’s container, and 27.22 gallons of oil worth $91.87 were stolen from the China King restaurant, 185 Eureka Towne Center Drive. Another 69.64 gallons of oil worth $235.04 were stolen from the Super Smokers restaurant, 1567 W. Fifth St., and 83.52 gallons of oil worth $281.88 was stolen from the Lion’s Choice restaurant, 1737 W. Fifth St., the report said.



Eureka Police were able to identify the van through surveillance video. The van was located with Flock license-plate reading cameras on Oct. 11 at a gas station in Bartonville, Ill., and the man was arrested, according to the report.



The man allegedly told Bartonville, Ill., Police that he worked for Lenz Oil Service of Peoria, Ill. However, the owner of that company said the man did not work for him, but he recognized the man’s name and had purchased oil from him in the past, the report said.



Eureka Police will seek a charge against the man through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for stealing, Capt. Michael Werges said.



www.myleaderpaper.com/news/police_fire/pennsylvania-man-stole-used-fryer-oil/article_f3636eb2-9182-11ef-a7b2-076dffec8b47.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next

I would have never thought that used fryer oil would become an object for theft! Who do you sell it to!

[clarencebunsen]

It is a fairly common practice for any large user of fryer oil to recycle it. Generally it is picked up by the same people who deliver it. It gets filtered and refined. The primary end product is diesel fuel. Not really cost effective for home fryers. That usually ends up in landfills. If something has value, someone will find a way of selling it.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

amazing I did not know diesel fuel was made from fryer oil