Oil prices are now about twice as high as they were one year ago and now cooking oil appears to be a hot commodity as well, NBC11 reported. Police said the high price of gas is causing some people to steal cooking oil to make their own fuel.

Restaurants that use fryers are the prime targets. Used grease was once considered trash, but it is now treasure to some thieves because it can be used to make bio-fuel.

The company that picks up the used cooking oil from the Oakland coliseum told NBC11 that several times thieves have raided the 300 gallon dumpster they use to store the grease.

They said the losses add up in the thousands of dollars. ... Read full article