Authorities say two people targeted Charlotte County restaurants, stealing used cooking oil from grease traps in places like Taco Bell on South McCall Road in Englewood, and even at Mission BBQ in Port Charlotte. Investigators say the two confessed to stealing the grease and scouting other spots in Punta Gorda, though they weren’t successful in stealing from that area.
Merlin Berrios and Osmin Isidro were arrested by Charlotte County deputies near the Boca Grande Causeway after being caught allegedly siphoning and stealing used cooking oil from Englewood restaurants.
Used cooking oil is a valuable commodity. Restaurant staff say that they can make decent money by selling their recycled oil, so losing it to thieves hits hard. Many restaurants keep their grease traps indoors, waiting for their recycling company to pick them up. A third party for this service, which also prevents theft.
Many local business owners find the thefts unsettling. Deputies believe the suspects posed as recycling workers, reaching out to restaurants all across Central Florida and the East Coast.
Because of the rising value of yellow grease, local and national law enforcement agencies have dealt with organized theft rings targeting restaurant collection vats across multiple states and regions.
