Used cooking oil stolen from Bay Area restaurants 

If I owned a restaurant, I would think they are doing me a favor, so I don't have to pay anyone to pick it up.

I'll tell them to take it free. I don't have to pay a company to take the used cooking oil.

Imagine going to jail for used cooking oil worth $500.

They go to jail because they are cutting into the Big Oil industry but people who shoplift a whole store section or squat in other's homes get a slap on the wrist or nothing at all. Moral of the story: Don't commit a crime against a group that lobbies in D.C

Probably gonna put these 2 guys in jail after they make room by releasing a couple of violent offenders

150 gallons of used cooking oil worth 500 dollars.........bullshit

Your tax dollars at work, busting guys taking a trash item. Meanwhile rampant muggings, murders, bash and dash robberies .

they just trying to make biodegradable fuel. 😂

Only worth $500! You spent more money on covering the story than what the oil is worth. You had a camera crew, reporter, and police involvemnet.

Asking for oil is not difficult. If one owner says no go to the next.

Getting locked up for gutter oil

This was a Spongebob episode.

this is stupid. I work as a kitchen manager in a restaurant and have had people ask me if they can take used oil to make biofuel and I always say yes as long as they have a pump so they dont make a mess pouring it out of the barrels i store it in

Slick crime .

They didn’t wanna say they actually use that oil to make makeup lmaoo

Thats Plankton and Karen from spongbob stealing from the crusty crab 😂😂😂

My retirement grease!!!

These guys will probably do hard time....Meanwhile, someone who smashed a brick over someone head. Then stole their car, will get out of jail in 3 hrs & put on probation.

I used to do that myself when I had a diesel van. The restaurant managers and owners didn't give a hoot. I was even caught red handed a number of times and they still didn't care. That oil is waste. I don't get why they arrested these guys

The cooking oil bandits. 😅

They had planned one heck of a fish fry for the holiday weekend.

This crime is up there with stealing used toilet paper.

So they professionally did the same thing the monopolizing companies do??? What was the crime they committed?

wait, wait, wait, there is used cooking oil interstate crime syndicate... smh.

I work for a company that collects and recycles used cooking oil, but from our customers, not random stores

Now we have to explain to people that taking someone else's property is stealing. Wow. These guys had their own tanker truck. They weren't small time criminals.

Come on guys tell me if this is really a crime, let's be honest. Taking used cooking oil 😂😂

Wasting taxpayers' money! Arrest 2 man over cooking oil! Stop stop

Like getting arrested for stealing garbage. Total BS charge

Good to see they are focusing on this instead of all the real crime going on better get on the dumpster divers next

👦: “Is it them again, Dad”? 👨‍👩‍👧: “It’s always them, Son”.

It's used for gasoline. There are plenty of companies that buy used oil for that purpose.

Is stupidity a commodity?!?

Do restaurants have to pay to have the oil removed, or do they get paid for the oil by processors?

Theft is theft. .. These men Stole something Someone else was paying for ... If they have the ability, then start your own business and buy it from other restaurants..

First off, they cannot prove why they stole it. Maybe they stole it bc they like using used cooking oil to cook . Secondly, they just revealed to those that do not know (like myself) that used cooking oil is valuable. Welp, we shall be seeing "used cooking oil thief's" on the news daily now. This is absolutely ridiculous!!

20 years ago I knew a guy that drove a car than ran on used cooking oil. It literally smelled like french fries if you drove behind him. But he'd just ask restaurants for their oil, they were glad to get rid of it.

Hire these guys immediately...they would be an asset to any company.

Maybe they should be paid by restaurants for recycling the waste?

😂😂😂 you know how they like their Fried Chicken

Maybe they were getting ready to host a family reunion and they needed the oil to cook some fish.

Mann ,2024 This new wave of lick$ cooking oil, catalytic convertor, charging hoses, street lights cooper, head stones is crazy

Not worth that much. Current price of Biodiesel (B99-B100) is $4.57/gallon. 50 gallons would be $228. Estimate of price of used cooking oil on high end is 50 cents/pound. 7.68 pounds per gallon times 50 gal is 384 pounds times 50 cents/pound is $192. I doubt restaurants are even getting $192 for 50 gallons, as the oil has to get cleaned first and picked up. The profit margin would be too low.

...and that was newsworthy?!!! I've been in the food industry (from associate to regional mngt) for over 30yrs and I have NEVER met a manager/owner that gave a crap about used oil once it left the kitchen!

Used cooking oil is used for biofuel diesel making. Honestly nothing wrong with that.

This is how you make a fuel from the used cooking oil; Turning used cooking oil into biodiesel involves a process known as transesterification. This process converts the triglycerides in the oil into methyl or ethyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin as a byproduct. Here’s a step-by-step outline of the process: Collection and Filtration: Collect the used cooking oil. Filter the oil to remove food particles and impurities. This is typically done using a fine mesh filter or a filtering system. Testing and Adjusting the Oil: Test the free fatty acid (FFA) content of the oil. High FFA levels can interfere with the transesterification process. If the FFA content is high, the oil may need to be pre-treated through a process called acid esterification, where the FFAs are converted to esters using an acid catalyst. Heating the Oil: Heat the filtered oil to around 60°C (140°F). This helps to reduce its viscosity and facilitate the reaction. Mixing with Alcohol and Catalyst: Prepare a mixture of alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and a catalyst (usually sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH)). The typical ratio is about 6 parts alcohol to 1 part oil by volume, with a catalyst concentration of about 0.5-1% of the oil weight. Transesterification Reaction: Add the alcohol-catalyst mixture to the heated oil. Stir the mixture vigorously for about 1-2 hours, maintaining the temperature at around 60°C (140°F). During this time, the triglycerides in the oil react with the alcohol to form biodiesel (methyl or ethyl esters) and glycerin. Separation: Allow the mixture to settle and separate. This can take several hours. The biodiesel will form a layer on top, while glycerin will settle at the bottom due to its higher density. Purification: Carefully drain the glycerin from the bottom. Wash the biodiesel with water to remove any remaining impurities, catalyst, or alcohol. This can be done using a gentle washing process where water is misted over the biodiesel and then allowed to settle and separate. Repeat the washing process until the water remains clear. Drying: Dry the washed biodiesel to remove any residual water. This can be done by heating the biodiesel gently or using a vacuum pump to evaporate the water. Final Filtration and Storage: Filter the dried biodiesel one final time to ensure purity. Store the biodiesel in a clean, dry container, ready for use as a fuel. Safety Considerations Wear protective gear (gloves, goggles, apron) when handling chemicals. Ensure good ventilation when working with alcohols and catalysts. Be cautious with the heating elements to avoid fires or burns. This process can be scaled up or down depending on the volume of used cooking oil available and the intended use of the biodiesel produced.

Cooking oil valued at $500?

How ridiculous is this report lmao 😂😂

It wasn't a crime until they did it. There not cooperating because they can't steal what was being discarded. next is what, empty cardboard boxe theft

Why not let them take it?

when the depression hit there will be all sorts showing up wanting work or to camp or to eat your livestock and to survive ...some want used tires or junk metal , i survived the obama years by scrapping metal as a pro for myself , one jamaican guy taught me the professional side of it all and he was the only person i've ever worked with who could work as hard as me or even keep working on sometimes...we had families ....

In the 90s, this is how scrap used to be. You could go by a workshop get in the dumpster and get all the scrap. It was only worth maybe 100 or 200 bucks if it was full, you might even have to take multiple trips then scrap prices everyone locked up the dumpsters started charging with stealing

That stuff worth money 💰💰💰

this was a blessing. These guys are saving the environment.

If 150 gallons of used cooking oil is worth $500 that $3.33 a gallon. Really? For used cooking oil? Come on.

I think the ' thieves ' should be forced to start a renewable diesel fuel business 😂❤

These guys weren’t using it for diesel conversion. They were selling it in their neighborhood as lube.😮

most dump it down the drain. and don’t get me started on the land fill. they just burn it with a few tons of plastic

Knew specifically where to go? You mean right to the oil tank?

In my area, they use to pay for used cooking oil, but now there is only one game in town, and they started charging us to remove it. They should have just asked the restaurant, there are good odds that the restaurant might just let them have it.

There's some confusion amongst people here. Biodiesel has become so popular that big companies now make it, not just some dude in his garage. They pay the restaurants for the oil. So, in essence you're stealing from the restaurant.

It’s trash. Not a crime

In the 1970's I worked on kitchen equipment at some 52-mess halls on Fort Hood TX. (slang for military kitchen). A hog farmer would pick up the leftover food in a special truck (like a dumpster truck). Empty the food cans into his truck at the 52 mess halls to feed his hogs. But after some of his hogs died because silverware was left in the discarded food. After years of this it was stopped, and now large garbage disposals are used.

This has been a thing for years..many years ago I wanted to get in the business to do this..biodiesel..everyone laughed at me

They could of set up a non profit and have an agreement to pick up the oil. The managers would not care as long as if`s picked up properly.

Arrested for stealing old cooking oil, but stealing old lady's homes is legal in OC Cali! WTF?????

They should get debrief & given a job. That's was thinking outside the oil!🤣🤧

All that cooking oil will come in handy during social hour in prison.

Years agao, a local restaurant used to leave it out behind their place, put back in the 5 gallon container. I used to take the nearly full containers and give them to my brother who would filter out the gunk and then burn it in his home's furnace for heat.

Actual Justice Warrior did a video a while back on thieves stealing cooking oil. He explained why cooking oil is worth money.

If you ask permission to take the oil because they don't want to pay somebody else to take it that's the easiest way to make money

Om goodness..u going to lock someone up for taking used cooking oil 😂😂😂😂.that's funny

Whoever paying them to do this is the big problem, these two are pawns police needs to focus on the real issues whoever profiting from them

I've been to Senegal in Wcontainer. Once I was approached to buy what I learned was used cooking oil in a 5 L plastic container , from a sketchy looking street vendor. Apparently the stuff is valuable in developing countries.

This shouldn’t even be a news story for real… used cooking oil 😂 the restaurants want a company to pick up their used oil because they have to pay fee to a company to pick up the oil to be recycled into other products.

The first rule of "Project Mayhem" is don't ask questions.

Can be used in diesel trucks for ⛽️

I wouldn't have the heart to ruin two people's lives over used rancid cooking oil. I got my money out of it, why shouldn't they too if they can? It's absolutely absurd they even got arrested over this. What's next, arresting people over used toilet paper?

Stealing garbage is actually a big business and a big crime.

used cooking oil is way more valuable than the unused one

This was an episode on The Simpsons. Groundskeeper Willie was saving it for his retirement, but Homer tried to steal it. Great episode.

Wait a minute… say what

This is stupid

🛑 Used cooking 🥘 oil is used to make fuel ⛽️ for cars 🚗

Yet people come into where I work steal expensive bottles of wine and literally nothing happens.

I'm sorry but I don't think this is worth arresting them over. They weren't violent, they didn't break into anyone's restaurant, break glass etc. They should have asked for the oil.

Brilliant. You'd be undectable because you don't go to the gas station 😂

A good lawyer can definitely beat this case

This is a crime I never imagined existed

That was their retirement grease.

What a shame our economy is so bad people must find such ways to survive😢

It's liquid gold for a converted diesel engine. Free MPGs and your call will put off a French Fry smell.

How stupid, to arrest these men for that.

I've used my used cooking oil in my bonfires, gives it a boost

When restaurants used lard, the used lard was sold to cosmetic companies for use in makeup products. Like lipstick and mascara. I don’t know what they use now.

why the reporter call those men thieves? They should get a pat on the back for their job.

That dude that was using used cooking oil to run car engines disappeared... wonder what happened to him

Someone is actually mad because they didn’t have to pay to dispose of it??

Inside guy is the driver of the rightful vendor DUHHHHHHH !!!!

Suspect #1 - "nephew, if we hit 3 restaurants thats 7 fiddy apiece,...we can make money phone pics" Suspect #2 - "its up"