Two suspects have been arrested after a series of thefts in York.
Humberside Police stopped a van believed to have been connected to a spate of cooking oil thefts in the city.
The same vehicle had previously been captured on CCTV in the Shambles Market area, where two individuals were seen stealing used cooking oil from nearby businesses.
As a result, North Yorkshire Police requested that officers stop the vehicle when sighted.
It is suspected that it may have been visiting a number of villages and towns across the county.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Used cooking oil is commonly stored by restaurants and takeaways for collection by licensed waste‑oil disposal companies.
“Because the oil has commercial value, thefts of this type are becoming more frequent. They often go unreported due to the difficulty of proving ownership and the lack of witnesses or CCTV coverage.
“In this case, high‑quality CCTV footage clearly showed the suspects and the vehicle registration. When the vehicle was stopped by Humberside Police, officers seized the van along with a quantity of suspected stolen oil found in the rear compartment.
“Both individuals were arrested and have since been released on police bail while the investigation continues.”
