Thieves are stealing anything and everything – even if it is bolted down. From ID theft and auto theft to copper piping and other metal theft – nothing is safe anymore. Add cooking oil to the list of recently targeted items!

For months, used cooking oil has been disappearing from containers behind Washington area restaurants. Thieves have been siphoning tens of thousands of gallons a month and reselling it.

Police last week arrested two men at a mall in Washington State they say were trying just such a scheme.

Cooking-oil theft is on the rise as the evolving biodiesel market has led to an increase in its value.

Time to be Proactive

Police departments in the region are becoming more involved to remedy this problem.

Industry insiders say the Ballston arrests mark a major breakthrough in combating an emerging form of commodity theft.

“It’s a brand-new crime,” said Steve Blankenship, regional manager of Charlottesville-based Greenlight Biofuels, which buys used oil from restaurants. “And it’s happening on an unbelievable scale.” He said the oil can sell on the street for as much as $4 per gallon.

Fa De Zheng, 36, of Oxon Hill and Ming Gang Lu, 38, of New York were charged with grand larceny and related charges on Oct. 7. Police say they were breaking into an oil container used by a client of Greenlight Biofuels.

At least four restaurants serviced by Greenlight Biofuels have been hit.

In recent years, companies have been buying used oil and converting it into biodiesel fuel, a petroleum diesel alternative that can be used in diesel engines. The oil can also be converted into animal feed. Firms in that business pay more for the oil than biodiesel firms.

Blankenship said his company has been losing about 20,000 gallons a month, or 5 to 10 percent of its business. He said the thefts have been happening for years but have increased significantly in recent months. The company learns the oil is stolen when it goes to collect it.

Police No Help – Hire a PI

Greenlight Biofuels hired private investigators and engaged several area police departments — some of which did not take him seriously at first.

As an effort to go “green” I am ever-so-glad to see the cooking oil being reused. Again though, people will steal anything to make a cheap buck. I guess it’s only cheap if you don’t get caught.