Two Charged in Oil Theft from Johnston Burger King

A Providence man and Bronx, NY, woman face charges of trying to steal heating oil from the Burger King on Hartford Avenue following their Sept. 26 arrests by Johnston Police.

Jose Acevedo, 35, of 135 Laura St., Providence, is due for an Oct. 17 status conference on misdemeanor larceny and conspiracy charges, while Celeste Santana, of New York, has an Oct. 11 pre-trial scheduled on one count of conspiracy.

Ptlm. Remy Mendez reported that he and four other officers responded to the Burger King at 1375 Hartford Ave. at about 2:45 a.m. on Sept. 26 in response to a call about a possible theft.

Officers located a 2002 Ford van fitting the caller's description down the street at 1500 Hartford Ave., Mendez noted.

According to Mendez, Acevedo admitted to trying to siphon heating oil from the restaurant "in order to recycle it," but did not take any oil.

A check of Acevedo's identity returned an active Sixth District Court warrant for failure to appear at a hearing on a willful trespass charge brought by Providence Police. 

Mendez reported that Santana said she didn't know Acevedo was prohibited from taking oil from the restaurant.

A check of the van found two 55-gal. barrels with an unspecified amount of oil inside and an oil siphon pump, noted Mendez.

At the time of his arrest, Acevedo had been serving 364 days' probation after pleading no contest on May 7 to the prior charge. He appeared at a probation violation hearing on Sept. 26, and was released on bail until an Oct. 11 hearing.