Two Men Charged In Connection With Westfield Cooking Oil Theft – Westfield, NJ Patch

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield police said this week that two men from Essex County have been arrested and charged with theft and criminal mischief, “pursuant to an investigation involving the theft of cooking oil.”

Police said that Milton Lee, 44, of Irvington, and David Gilmore, 42, of Newark were charged on Oct. 19 at 8:45 a.m.

Police explained, “This was pursuant to an investigation involving the theft of cooking oil and criminal mischief to a locking mechanism from a commercial establishment at the 300 block of East South Avenue. Both were given summonses, which have a mandatory Westfield Municipal Court appearance date of Nov 3.”

It’s not unusual for thieves to steal used cooking oil from establishments. According to the Associated Press, the FBI busted up a 21-person oil theft ring last year that stole nearly $4 million in “yellow grease.”

The thefts took place in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia over five years, the AP reported.