Early Tuesday morning in Ellington, a local restaurant owner caught two men red-handed stealing used cooking oil. According to the Connecticut State Police, the incident unfolded around 5:40 a.m. when the owner discovered the suspects using a hose to pump the oil into a van parked behind the restaurant.
The vigilant owner promptly contacted the authorities and kept them updated on the suspects' whereabouts. This led to a swift response by state police, who intercepted the van as it attempted to merge onto Interstate 84 West in Vernon. The driver, 34-year-old Jonathan Gutierrez Rosario, and his passenger, 29-year-old Ronald Gutierrez-Sant, were apprehended on the Exit 64 on-ramp. Despite Gutierrez-Sant's claims of heading home to New York, he was reluctant to disclose their starting point.
The police investigation confirmed that the men had been siphoning oil from the restaurant. They found a sizable white oil tank in the van, which was about a third full. Both suspects were charged with possession of burglary tools, second-degree criminal trespassing, and fourth-degree larceny. They were held on $100,000 bond and appeared in Rockville Superior Court later that day.
Phibro RenewOil’s Solutions: Protecting Your Business
Incidents like these highlight the importance of securing your used cooking oil. At Phibro RenewOil, we understand the challenges businesses face in protecting their waste oil. That’s why we offer advanced, anti-theft solutions for all your oil collection needs. Our secure, theft-resistant containers are designed to prevent unauthorized access and safeguard your valuable resources. By choosing Phibro RenewOil, you can ensure not only the secure disposal of your used cooking oil but also peace of mind knowing that your business is protected against theft.
Explore our range of secure containers and comprehensive oil management solutions to protect your business from similar threats.