HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Of all the things to steal, who would’ve thought that a restaurant’s used cooking oil would be the target of enterprising thieves? Thefts like these are on the rise. Hanover Township Police Officer Emmanuel Malasig arrested Mr. Eric Marrero, 32, Staten Island, New York, for receiving stolen property on Friday, January 6.
Officer Malasig responded to the Brookside Diner, 699 Route 10, for a reported cooking oil theft. Upon arrival, Officer Malasig located Mr. Marrero removing cooking oil from a metal bin belonging to the diner.
After a brief investigation, it was learned Mr. Marrero was stealing the oil and was arrested and transported to Hanover Township Police Headquarters for processing.
Marrero was charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and burglary tools. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses for unregistered vehicle, failure to inspect, no insurance, unsafe vehicle, unclear plates, failure to notify DMV of an address change, hazardous tires, idling, suspended license, failure to make repairs, and lending or using registration certification of plates.
He was then released pending his court date.
The National Renderers Association in 2019 estimated that $75 million worth of [used cooking oil] is stolen annually.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
