Grease Thief Strikes Palos Restaurant

A slippery thief recently made a slick getaway with more 500 pounds of restaurant grease.

Owners of Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ on 127th Street told Palos Heights police used cooking grease was stolen sometime on Oct. 2 or Oct. 3. The stolen grease, leftover after cooking and stored in a large box behind the restaurant, is regularly picked up and processed by a grease recycling company, is valued at about $200.

The spike in energy prices has turned the used cooking product into a money-maker for restaurants, said Todd Taras, co-owner of the Palos Heights barbecue joint.

"It's very lucrative," Taras said.

For years, the recycling company offered to haul away the grease for free. It eventually started offering money for the grease. Taras said Smokin' Joe's makes at least $200 every three months on the leftover grease.

Cooking oil is increasingly being used as a fuel source. As the cost of the commodity rises, so does the appeal for criminals. The number of grease thefts is on the rise nationally, according to Takepart.com.

The first theft hit Smokin' Joe's in June, Taras said. The regular driver of the removal truck noticed the tank that holds the grease was much less than usual, Taras said. He said they added a metal grate to the tank opening in hopes it would deter the thieves. Despite the deterrent, they struck again earlier this month.

In all, Smokin' Joe's lost out on more than $500 of extra revenue because of the thefts, Taras said.

Palos Heights police are investigating.

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