Clermont, Florida – A local restaurant was left feeling a bit fried after a man was caught red-handed (or, more accurately, red-oiled) stealing over 120 gallons of cooking oil. The suspect, described as a “slender black male with dreadlocks wearing all black,” apparently thought the restaurant’s fryers were a personal buffet.
According to the Clermont Police Department, the suspect was caught in the act by the restaurant’s manager. After a brief confrontation, the suspect made a hasty getaway in a white, beat-up work van. However, his greasy getaway was short-lived.
Police pulled over the van and found the suspect with a mountain of cooking oil, worth over $400. It turns out the van was equipped with special tools to make the oil heist a bit more… slick. Imagine a van with a secret compartment for oil storage and bolt cutters for any unexpected obstacles. Talk about a well-planned operation!
The suspect is now facing charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, traveling across county lines to commit crimes, and (hilariously) not having a driver’s license. It’s unclear if he plans to use the stolen oil to start his own fried food empire or just wanted to make a really greasy mess.