New York man allegedly sold stolen Chick-fil-A cooking oil on black market: Police

The New York man was arrested for stealing used cooking oil from a Chick-fil-A

A New York man was arrested after stealing Chick-fil-A's famous peanut oil several times this year, police said.

The Suffolk Police Department arrested Hector Castrol-Espinal, 23, of Woodside, New York, on Wednesday.

Police allege that Castrol-Espinal was involved in the black market trade of used cooking oil since January 2023.

Suffolk County Police arrested Hector Castrol-Espinal, 23, for allegedly stealing cooking oil from Chick-fil-A in Huntington Station. (FOX 5 New York)

Police said Castrol-Espinal stole oil from the chicken restaurant and hauled it onto a rented U-Haul and Fluid Truck Share trucks, before reselling the oil. 

According to police, siphoned oil is a hot commodity on the black market. The oil can be reprocessed into renewable diesel or biodiesel fuel. 

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After collecting a series of surveillance pictures, authorities say Castrol-Espinal siphoned oil on January 24, January 31, and February 10, February 18, and March 23 of this year.

Hector Castrol-Espinal on January 24th, 2023 used a U-Haul truck to steal used cooking oil from a Chick-fil-A in New York. (FOX 5 New York)

Hector Castrol-Espinal on February 10th, 2023 used a rental truck to steal used oil. (FOX 5 New York)

Hector Castrol-Espinal on February 18th, 2023 in a Fluid truck share vehicle.  (FOX 5 New York)

Hector Castrol-Espinal on March 23rd, 2023 using a rental truck to steal used cooking oil from a Chick-fil-A. (FOX 5 New York)

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Castrol-Espinal was charged with five counts of Petit Larceny. He was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

Police believe more businesses have been targeted.

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Suffolk County police urges anyone that thinks they might have been a victim of this crime, to file a police report, by calling 631-852-COPS.

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