Several restaurants in Naples, New York, were targeted by thieves who stole large amounts of used cooking oil overnight, leaving business owners shocked by the unusual crime.
Surveillance footage appears to show two people taking fryer oil from Luigi’s pizza shop around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, according to 13WHAM. Authorities are investigating the incident as concerns grow over the rising value of used cooking oil.
Luigi’s owner John Meyer discovered the theft hours later when he arrived at the restaurant. He noticed that the storage tank, which had been almost full the previous evening, had lost a large amount of oil.
“The tank was almost entirely full the night previous and when I came in and opened it up, it was maybe at about half,” Meyer said.
After checking the restaurant’s security footage, Meyer learned that other local businesses had experienced similar thefts. He contacted nearby establishments and discovered that the incident was not limited to Luigi’s.
“Upon calling around, it was discovered that the Middletown Tavern had also been hit and their oil vat was entirely emptied out,” Meyer said. “Also, down the street at Plenty the Bakery, their oil vat had been emptied out as well.”
13WHAM reportedly contacted the Redwood Restaurant in Naples, which confirmed that it had been targeted.
The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the unusual theft. Surveillance footage from Luigi’s appears to show two individuals taking used fryer oil from the restaurant during the early morning hours.
The incidents have raised concerns among local business owners, especially as used cooking oil has become a valuable product that can attract thieves.
Used cooking oil may seem like ordinary kitchen waste, but it has a market value because it can be turned into other products.
The oil can be processed into diesel, biodiesel fuel, and animal feed. Its value has made it an attractive target for people looking to make money by collecting and reselling it.
The New York State Police had already warned businesses about used cooking oil thefts months before the Naples incidents. Authorities explained that the material had become a valuable commodity and that restaurants should be aware of the risk.
A September case in Cranston, Rhode Island, also showed how cooking oil theft can involve people traveling between states.
Police arrested two men from the Bronx, New York, on suspicion of stealing 100 gallons of cooking oil from a restaurant. Per Providence Journal, the theft reportedly happened around 2:20 a.m. on Sept. 11.
According to Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist, license plate readers alerted officers to an out-of-state white Ford Transit linked to cooking oil thefts in the area. Officers found the vehicle at PJ’s Pub on Pontiac Avenue less than 25 minutes after receiving the first alert.
Police reported finding a strong oil smell, along with a hose and pumping system inside the vehicle. The two suspects were charged with larceny under $1,500 and conspiracy.
“The theft of used cooking oil is not a new problem for restaurants in Cranston and throughout Rhode Island,” Winquist said in a statement.
“Cranston has experienced similar incidents in the past, including cases involving individuals traveling from outside Rhode Island to target restaurants overnight.”
The North American Renderers Association estimated in a 2025 press release that used cooking oil theft costs the industry between $300 million and $500 million each year in the United States. The organization also noted that the total could reach as much as $1 billion based on the size of the market and reported theft rates.
An earlier case in western New York also showed how organized cooking oil theft can become a profitable business. In 2022, investigators looked into a group of six people accused of stealing restaurant cooking oil and selling it to buyers.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the group had more than 12,000 gallons of stolen oil worth over $73,000 at two warehouses in Rochester. Investigators also found that the group had earned $60,051 by selling and shipping 95,320 gallons of stolen oil to a refinery in Erie, Pennsylvania, Miami Herald reported in 2023.
The cases show why used cooking oil has become a target for criminals and why restaurant owners are being warned to protect their storage tanks.
For Meyer, the theft was not just about losing a valuable product. The incident also affected his confidence in the people around his business.
He said he and his family had never experienced anything like this before. While small acts of mischief sometimes happen in the area, he said stealing large amounts of cooking oil was something entirely different.
“Personally, it hurts to not have that level of trust,” Meyer said. “Some folks, you know, they just see an opportunity and, good or bad, they take it.”
Meyer explained that the family had experienced minor problems in the past, such as children playing around with outdoor decorations or taking pumpkins during Halloween. However, they had never dealt with a theft of this size.
“Occasionally you’ll have kids come around, screw around with your potted plants or something like that,” he said. “You know, maybe run off with a pumpkin come Halloween time but never anything wild like that.”
Despite what happened, Meyer hopes the community will continue to support one another and look out for local businesses.
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