On Monday, July 20, 2026, the New York State Police issued an announcement warning businesses about multiple recent attempts to steal used cooking oil from local businesses. Several incidents have been reported recently, involving suspects who have been siphoning used cooking oil from restaurant storage tanks. This type of oil is valuable because it can be recycled into products such as renewable fuels, making it an attractive target for thieves. According to the report, a male was observed in a commercial Ford Van with a green hose connected to the restaurant’s used cooking containers, pumping oil into the van. Around 9:30 a.m. on July 18, 2026, New York State Police from the Endwell barracks were dispatched to Lupo’s Char-Pit on East Main Street in the town of Union for a report of two men attempting to steal used cooking oil.