Police in North Wales issue alert over unusual new crime trend

Police in North Wales have issued an alert over an unusual new crime trend. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

It follows reports of cooking oil being stolen from businesses by criminals. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

Officers said the incidents had been triggered by the rising value of used cooking oil for other purposes. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

They are asking business owners to be on their guard against criminal gangs pretending to be from waste disposal companies. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

North Wales Police said: “We have been made aware of a crime trend involving the theft of used cooking oil recently. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“Although this would seem a strange thing to steal used cooking oil has value for things like bio fuels and other purposes. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“We would ask all food outlets in the area to be alert for this type of crime. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“Please secure all used cooking oil and make sure that if you have a contract to have it collected you check to confirm that it is that legitimate company that you are dealing with and not a criminal gang pretending to be from a real waste company.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

Main image: “Fryer” by Eric Kilby is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​