New Jersey man accused of stealing 500 gallons of cooking oil

HOLMDEL, N.J. -- A Paterson man faces criminal charges after police in central New Jersey say he was arrested with about 500 gallons of used cooking oil.

Holmdel police say they received a call early Friday that someone was stealing oil from behind a restaurant on Route 35.

Lieutenant Michael Pigott tells the Asbury Park Press that Carlos Garcia-Martinez had about 500 gallons of cooking oil in his van when he was stopped. Pigott says 30 gallons of oil had come from the back of an A&P supermarket. The rest allegedly had been taken from other places.

Restaurants customarily put out used oil to be recycled.

The 32-year-old Garcia-Martinez was charged with theft, criminal mischief and criminal attempt theft. It wasn't known what he planned to do with the oil.