Two men were arrested this week and charged with stealing cooking oil from restaurants around Suffolk County, including two in East Northport.
Seventh Precinct officers responded to a 911 caller early Tuesday about two men stealing used cooking oil from Mama Lisa Restaurant, 1226 Montauk Highway in Mastic. They fled the scene in a white Ford van.
A short time later, officers located and arrested Oliver Lorenzo Valdez of Central Islip and Juan Hernandez of Brentwood behind Gourmet Garden, 802 Montauk Highway in Center Moriches at 6:20 a.m.
Police determined that the two had committed the same crime at multiple locations throughout Suffolk County since April.
Both men were arrested and charged with stealing used cooking oil from the following businesses:
• Friendly’s, located at 50 East Main St. in East Islip, reported on April 10 at 9:08 a.m.
• Mulberry Street Babylon, located at 30 East Main Street in Babylon, reported on April 22 at approximately 10:10 a.m.
• Bagels 101, located at 852 Middle Country Road in Middle Island, reported on June 13 at 8:14 a.m.
• Shah’s Halah Food, located at 884 Middle Country Road in Middle Island, reported on June 13 at 8:31 a.m.
• Carlo’s Pizza, located at 451 Glen Drive in Shirley, reported on June 18 at 9:21 a.m.
• La Vespa, located at 264 Moriches Middle Island Road in Manorville, reported on June 18 at 9:28 a.m.
• Smoke Shack BBQ, located at 792 Montauk Highway in Center Moriches, reported on June 18 at 9:40 a.m.
• Carmelina’s Pizzeria and Ristorante, located at 794 Main Street in Center Moriches, reported on June 18 at 9:40 a.m.
• Meltology Bar & Grilled Cheese, located at 848 Middle Country Road in Middle Island, reported on June 19 at 8:09 a.m.
• Joy Wo Chinese Kitchen, located at 99 Route 25A in Shoreham reported on June 19 at 9:01 a.m.
• Gourmet Garden, located at 802 Main Street in Center Moriches, reported on June 19 at 9:40 a.m.
• Miko East Northport Sushi & Hibachi, located at 1932 Jericho Turnpike in East Northport, reported on June 19 at 11:08 a.m.
• Huntington Square Mall, located at 4000 Jericho Turnpike in East Northport, reported on June 19 at 11:29 a.m.
• Mama Lisa Restaurant, located at 1226 Montauk Highway, Mastic, reported on June 25 at 6:13 a.m.
Valdez and Hernandez were both charged with 14 counts of Petit Larceny, two counts of Criminal Mischief and one count of Conspiracy 6th Degree.
Used cooking oil is often used to make biodiesel fuel.