Two men were busted for stealing used cooking oil from a restaurant after the owner watched them using a hose to siphon the oil and then directed police to where they were headed, according to the Connecticut State Police.
The owner of the restaurant in Ellington called the state police around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to report seeing two men using a hose to pump the oil into the back of a white van.
When the men drove away, the owner remained on the line and told troopers which way they were heading.
Troopers found the vehicle trying to enter Interstate 84 near Vernon and pulled it over.
Police identified the men as Jonat Gutierrez Rosario, 34, and Ronald Gutierrez-Sant, 29.
"Gutierrez-Sant explained that they were traveling home to New York, but would not answer Troopers' questions as to where they were coming from," the state police said.
"Troopers made contact with the complainant, who confirmed that this vehicle and its occupants were the same as he had observed behind his business siphoning used cooking oil."
Troopers found a white oil tank in the back of the van that was about 30 percent filled.
The two men were charged with 4th-degree larceny, possession of burglar's tools, and 2nd degree criminal trespass. They are being held on $100,000 bail.
Why is used cooking oil stolen?
Used cooking oil can be recycled into biodiesel, a low-carbon fuel that can be used in cars and for home heating. It can also be used to replace corn in pet food.
