Grease was stolen from this Fairfax County dumpster on March 26. (Fairfax County Police )
Black market thieves are stealing more than $75 million in old cooking grease each year, according to a new report.
A man was caught earlier this month siphoning about 150 gallons of grease from a dumpster behind a Burger King in northern Virginia, the Washington Post reported.
TEXAS WOMAN GETS 15 YEARS IN JAIL FOR STEALING $1.3M FROM RODEO
Law enforcement officers told The Post that a hike in biodiesel prices is helping to spur the fast food grease thefts.
Rendering companies normally pay restaurants a fee to remove the grease and sell it for things like biofuel or animal feed, The Post reported.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Corporate lawyer Charles Gittins said his rendering company lost $5 million in grease thefts in 2015, the last year. “You can make $10,000 in a night,” he added.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
