Liquid Gold? Greenwich PD Investigates Thefts of Used Cooking Oil

Greenwich Police say they're investigating the theft — again — of used cooking oil from an outdoor storage container from Moe's Burger Joint in Old Greenwich.

According to Lt. Kraig Gray, a "few hundred dollars worth of used cooking oil" was taken sometime between Jan. 8 or 9 from an outdoor storage container at Moe's Burger Joint, 1340 E. Putnam Ave. The exact amount of oil taken is not known.

"It's a growing trend at the local level. It's the second event in a month. They got hit on Dec. 13," Gray said. "It's a regional trend, if not a national trend." The used cooking oil is processed into biodiesel fuel for cars and various manufacturing equipment, Gray added.

Gray said there have been similar reports in Stamford and other towns. The recently-opened reported it lost $600 worth of used cooking oil was siphoned from a back storage area of the restaurant on Jan. 4.

According to myFoxDC.com, thefts in the Arlington, VA area continue as well, where the used oil can bring up to $4 a gallon.