HELLERTOWN, Pa. — A messy getaway in Northampton County has police investigating a cooking oil theft that targeted local restaurants.

Hellertown police say the thieves’ equipment malfunctioned, spilling oil across several busy roadways.

Oil spilled all over a back alleyway, down High Street, Main Street and Wilson Street Thursday. Police say it is the aftermath of a cooking oil theft gone wrong.

“The actors did hit one of our restaurants. Then they were trying to hit a second restaurant and they clearly had a malfunction with their equipment and caused a large oil spill,” said James Baitinger, Chief of the Hellertown Police Department.

Hellertown’s police chief says while it sounds unique, it’s a reoccurring issue that has even recently hit Whitehall, the Reading area, and even Bucks County.

Restaurants store used oil in outside containers; a company then comes and takes the barrels away. But it’s not unusual for thieves to be on the lookout for the cooking oil.

“You’d be surprised. It doesn’t seem like it would be a huge profit-sharing type thing, but it happens,” said Chief Baitinger. “They go in with siphon machines and they have big trucks. A lot of times it’s just a van and or like a box truck, where they have a bladder in the back and they just pump the oil right in there.”

Local spots are frequent targets. Thursday, there were attempts at Wings on Main and at Hellertown Crossroads. DiMaio’s Ristorante was even hit last year.

For residents living less than a block away, the target comes as a total surprise.

“I’m amazed, honestly, that people would want that. I can’t imagine, you know, the uncleanliness of all that and having to deal with it. What’s it used for?” said neighbor Bob Yovish. “To find out that it happened here, less than half a block away from me, is just simply amazing.”

Public works, fire crews, and PennDOT rushed to clear the roads. But police warn the messy hazard may not be entirely gone.

“With oil, when it permeates into the asphalt, that first rain, it’s going to come back out,” said Chief Baitinger. “So that’s where the residual oil effects are going to happen. So, you know, our public works is ready for it and prepared for this weekend.”

No arrests have been made. Anyone with security or dashcam footage of a van or box truck leaking fluid is asked to contact Hellertown police at 610-838-7040.