Takeaways and chippies across the UK have been put on alert amid rising reports of used cooking oil theft.
The practice of converting used oil into unregulated biodiesel that is being sold on the black market is becoming an increasingly common trend, North Wales Live reports.
Commercial operators are forbidden from disposing of their used vegetable oil by pouring it down the drain. They must instead arrange for it to be taken away by a waste carrier.
This means that fish and chip shops and other takeaways will sometimes store their used oil in large tanks to the rear of their premises, which thieves are targeting in order to sell illegally.
Other criminals are deceiving small business owners by posing as legitimate collectors of used oil.
Estimates suggest that up to a fifth of the used cooking oil made in the UK is stolen.
The trend has prompted North Wales Police to ask food vendors to be vigilant to safeguard against the crime.
In a Facebook post, the force explained: "We have been made aware of a crime trend involving the theft of used cooking oil recently.
“Although this would seem a strange thing to steal, used cooking oil has value for things like biofuels and other purposes.
“We would ask all food outlets in the area to be alert for this type of crime.”
So-called "chip shop fuel" can be harmful to modern diesel engines and can clog up important parts, such as fuel injectors and emission control devices.
A recent spike in the theft of used cooking oil by organised gangs has been reported by various police forces across the UK.
Two London men travelling on the M1 were arrested in November last year over the theft of cooking oil from Conwy.
It is believed that stolen oil is being transported to southern England, where it is being processed.
Food outlets across the whole of the UK are being urged to safeguard against becoming a victim of used oil theft by taking measures such as the installation of CCTV and security lighting and ensuring their back yards are properly secured.
They are also being encouraged to be wary of bogus collectors touting for their business and to check their existing disposal arrangements are with a legitimate waste collection company.
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