Used Oil Thefts

Two suspects have been arrested by Humberside Police after officers stopped a vehicle in their area. The vehicle is believed to be connected to a recent series of used‑cooking‑oil thefts in the York area.

The same vehicle had previously been captured on CCTV in the York Market area, where two individuals were seen stealing used cooking oil from nearby businesses. As a result, North Yorkshire Police placed a stop marker on the vehicle, requesting that officers stop it when sighted.

It is suspected that the vehicle may have been visiting a number of villages and towns across the county

Used cooking oil is commonly stored by restaurants and takeaways for collection by licensed waste‑oil disposal companies. Because the oil has commercial value, thefts of this type are becoming more frequent. They often go unreported due to the difficulty of proving ownership and the lack of witnesses or CCTV coverage.

In this case, high‑quality CCTV footage clearly showed the suspects and the vehicle registration. When the vehicle was stopped by Humberside Police, officers seized the van along with a quantity of suspected stolen oil found in the rear compartment.

Both individuals were arrested and  have since been released on police bail while the investigation continues.

Police are currently unable to release further details about the vehicle or suspects while the investigation is ongoing. However, we strongly encourage businesses to report any thefts. These incidents matter to the whole community, and even a single unreported theft can lead to further issues for other businesses.

If you need to report an incident, please call 999 in an emergency or 101 for non‑urgent matters. You can also submit a report online via your local Police website.