FLAGLER COUNTY, Florida. –Two men are facing burglary and theft charges after deputies caught them with about $5,000 of stolen used cooking oil, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Rui Gen Lin, 48, and Rong Chen, 41, were both arrested early Thursday morning outside Woody’s Bar-B-Que near State Route 100 and Interstate 95 in Palm Coast.
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Deputies said they were doing a business check at Woody’s around 3 a.m. when they spotted the two men vacuuming used cooking oil from a container in a closed area outside the company. The oil was drawn into large tanks in the back of an unmarked white truck.
Deputies said they spotted bolt cutters, a hammer and a crowbar in the back of the box truck.
Records show the oil canister bore a notice on the side saying the contents belonged to Dar Pro Ingredients pursuant to an agreement with the restaurant. The notice also specifies that the company does not use subcontractors. When asked what company they worked for, the men said they worked for “Green Star”, according to the deputies.
Investigators said the owner of Woody’s was contacted and he said there was no scheduled oil pickup.
Records show the men had around 7,000 pounds of oil in their truck when the deputies showed up. Used cooking oil is used in the production of diesel and jet fuel.
Both men face charges of burglary of an unoccupied structure, possession of burglary tools and petty theft.
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