A Chick-fil-A employee in Georgia has become a local hero after thwarting a recurring theft of used peanut oil from the restaurant’s dumpster. The manager of a Chick-fil-A store in Athens, Georgia recently reported that bandits have been stealing between 700 and 800 gallons of cooking oil every month, valued at approximately $2,000. The most recent incident occurred at the Atlanta Highway Chick-fil-A on October 5th, where the thieves managed to steal the oil before it could be recycled.
According to Lt. Jody Thompson of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the theft of cooking oil, often referred to as “yellow grease,” is not uncommon. The thieves cut the lock off the back gate where the grease trap is located and used a rented U-Haul truck to siphon out several thousand dollars’ worth of oil. It remains unclear whether the incident was captured on surveillance video.
Used fry oil from fast-food restaurants is typically sold to biodiesel companies for recycling purposes. However, in this case, the bandits beat Chick-fil-A employees to the punch by stealing the valuable grease. The Department of Homeland Security has previously highlighted the practice, stating that restaurants often sell their used oil to biodiesel companies.
This is the fourth time that Chick-fil-A’s oil has been stolen, with the thieves targeting the restaurant on a monthly basis. The store has already replaced two heavy-duty locks worth around $70 in an attempt to prevent further thefts. The Athens-Clarke Police Department is now seeking the public’s help in catching these fast-food-targeting thieves, urging residents to report any suspicious activity, particularly large vehicles like U-Haul trucks near restaurants during early morning hours.
The manager and staff at the Athens Chick-fil-A declined to comment on the incidents, and the restaurant’s public relations team was unavailable for immediate comment.
In conclusion, the Chick-fil-A employee’s vigilance has highlighted the ongoing issue of oil theft in the fast-food industry. Local authorities are making efforts to apprehend the culprits and are calling on the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
