2 Busted For Stealing Cooking Oil From Suffolk Restaurants: Police

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Two Farmingville men were busted for stealing cooking oil from Dirty Taco and Harbor Crab in Patchogue, and Island Empanada in Medford recently, Suffolk police said.

Gregory Smith stole cooking oil from the restaurants five times between May 22 and June 5, police said, adding that Smith drove a rented box truck and siphoned the oil into a 500-gallon container while Andrew DeMarco, who shares the same address, drove a 2023 Honda Accord to act as a look-out.

The two were arrested in Patchogue on Monday morning at around 1:45 a.m. for stealing from the restaurants following an investigation by Crime Section officers from the 5th Precinct in Patchogue.

Smith, 39, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and five counts of petit larceny, a misdemeanor. DeMarco, 38, was charged with one count of third-degree criminal mischief and two counts of petit larceny.

They are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.

The investigation is continuing, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a similar crime to call 631-852-COPS to file a police report.