Hampton Police Crack Cooking Oil Theft Ring
Hampton, New Hampshire police have arrested three men in connection with the theft of used cooking oil from multiple restaurants. The investigation began on August 6 when a restaurant employee reported seeing two individuals siphoning oil from a 50-gallon container at Las Olas. Surveillance footage showed a gray Toyota RAV4 arriving before a white Home Depot rental truck, which was later linked to both the Hampton and Shrewsbury, Massachusetts incidents.
The case broke open again on September 30 when a Las Olas employee spotted individuals siphoning oil from another restaurant. The police located the suspects' vehicle, a white Budget rental truck, and arrested Jose Rivera Deleon, Neyl Junior Garcia De Jesus, and Luis A. Rijo Kelly without incident.
The investigation is ongoing, with approximately 1,000 gallons of used cooking oil seized from the truck. All three men were charged with one count of theft and receiving stolen property, both Class A misdemeanors. They are scheduled to appear in court on November 16.