BUFFALO, N.Y. — Two men from Yonkers, New York, have been arrested for allegedly stealing 1,400 gallons of used cooking grease from behind a restaurant in Amherst, police said Wednesday.
According to the Amherst Police Department, officers responded around 5:25 a.m. on Friday, May 30 to reports of suspicious activity behind a closed business on Transit Road.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Yoandry Paulino-Tejada, 31, and Christhian Valdez Ruiz, 41, operating a box truck. Investigators found they were in possession of a large volume of used grease stored in containers, which had allegedly been taken from a commercial collection unit behind the restaurant.
Both suspects were charged with:
Attempted petit larceny (misdemeanor)
Criminal possession of stolen property (misdemeanor)
Possession of burglar’s tools (misdemeanor)
Authorities noted that thefts of used cooking oil — commonly known as “yellow grease” — are on the rise across Western New York. The substance is considered valuable because it can be repurposed into biofuels, animal feed, and other industrial products.
The investigation is ongoing. Police did not disclose the name of the restaurant or the estimated market value of the stolen grease.
