Grease Theft: A Growing Problem in West TN
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If you live in the South, chances are you like fried foods. But would you be willing to pay for the used grease? Owners of local restaurants said, surprisingly, there is a market for it and the tanks of deep fryer grease are like post of greasy gold for some thieves. Local restauarants said the grease is now the most popular item on the menu for thieves. “It’s a hot commodity right now,” said Randy Smith of Baudo’s Restaurant in Jackson. “Normally our grease container has quite a bit in it but there is hardly anything in there now. Watch out for your grease being stolen because it probably is.” In fact, Roger Wilson, the owner of Zaxby’s said thieves were caught in the act by surveillance cameras at his restaurant. “The two managers walked outside and immediately the two guys jumped back in there truck and got away,” said Wilson. Investigators said Zaxby’s is not the only restaurant targeted. There have been two reported thefts this week alone. The question is, why would anyone want to steal grease? “It’s obviously being traded or sold to make bio-degradable fuel,” said Investigator Dwayne McClain of the Jackson Police Department. “Most bins behind the restaurants are around 200 gallons.. a full bin would be about $800 worth of grease.” Which investigators Dwayne McClain said could amount to a felony charge. “(We) just want to make a lot of local restaurants aware. We do have a vehicle we would like people to be on the lookout for if we can get a tag number from the vehicle it would be a very big help,” said McClain.
