Two New York men were arrested on suspicion of stealing 100 gallons of cooking oil from a Cranston restaurant at 2:20 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11.<\/p>\n
The Cranston police activated an early-hours search after Flock license plate readers<\/a> sent multiple notifications that an out-of-state white Ford Transit associated with cooking-oil thefts in the area was driving through Cranston.<\/p>\n Less than 25 minutes after the first notification, a patrol car approached the vehicle at PJ’s Pub<\/a> on Pontiac Avenue, where police found a strong oil odor and a hose and pumping system, according to a statement from Col. Michael Winquist, Cranston’s chief of police.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n The two suspects, from Bronx, New York, were charged with larceny under $1,500 and conspiracy, Winquist said.<\/p>\n Why is used cooking targeted for thefts?<\/p>\n Used cooking oil can be turned in to diesel, biodiesel and animal feed. Last year, the North American Renderers Association estimated that used cooking oil theft in the United States costs the industry between $300 million and $500 million annually.<\/p>\n “With the U.S. UCO [used cooking oil] market now totaling approximately 6.5 billion pounds annually, and anecdotal theft rates from industry sources suggesting a far greater prevalence of as much as 15-25%, the true scale could reach up to $1 billion,” the Renderers Association estimated in a 2025 press release.<\/p>\n See what a Flock camera looks like in RI<\/p>\n 1 of 8<\/p>\n This Flock camera, tucked underneath its tell-tale solar panel, is mounted on its own black pole on Cedar Street in Pawtucket. Photographed Aug. 4, 2026. (Paul Edward Parker\/The Providence Journal)<\/p>\n The late-night arrest is also an example of the benefits of the Flock technology<\/a>, said Winquist.<\/p>\n “This case is a clear example of how Flock LPR technology can serve as an investigative tool,” Winquist said. “The technology provided [officers] with a timely investigative lead that helped put them in the right place at the right time.”<\/p>\n The cameras and license plate readers have become controversial<\/a> because of the company’s national data-sharing capabilities. Gov. Dan McKee called for a statewide pause<\/a> on new Flock cameras in August. In September, the New Bedford, Massachusetts, police chief recommended the termination of two officers<\/a> who used the camera system to allegedly stalk romantic partners.<\/p>\n