A Newark man was arrested and a second man is being sought, after police caught them stealing cooking oil in a modified van.
Officer on patrol observed a white Ford van parked behind Bella Gina’s Deli, located at 1025 W. St. George Ave., which looked suspicious at approximately 1:02 a.m. today.
As the officer approached the van, he observed a man sitting in the driver seat, later identified as Wilson Rolando Villa-Tenemaza, 33, of Newark. The officer then looked in the rear portion of the van and observed a tank half-filled with a liquid.
The officer then noticed another man at the rear of the deli who saw the officer, then ran. The officer discovered a pair of orange work gloves, a hose, and pump connected to a used cooking oil reservoir container.
Villa-Tenemaza was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted theft. The Ford van was towed and seized as evidence.
Officers searched the surrounding area for the accomplice with negative results.
According to police, used cooking oil is often stolen for its value when it is recycled into a biofuel.
Villa-Tenemaza is being held pending the setting of bail and has a court date set for next week.