Pair charged with stealing used grease

KEY WEST, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- Two employees of a South Florida company that collects used cooking fat from restaurants have been charged with stealing fat from other companies' clients.

Pedro Gonzalez and Eduardo Vega told police they were trying to make up for the loss of grease that vanished from their scheduled stops before they could make the pickup, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. Both men work for Avila Environmental, a company based in Miami.

Police reports indicate Monroe County sheriff's deputies were on alert because another collection company complained about cooking fat going missing in the Florida Keys. Deputies said they observed men in a tractor-trailer picking up fat at the Fish House, D Hookers and a McDonald's.

After their truck was pulled over, Gonzalez produced a list of their scheduled stops, which did not include the three restaurants.