Two Men Busted For Alleged Grease Theft From a Restaurant in Kent

The Connecticut State Police Troop L in Litchfield, with an assist from the New Milford Police Department, has just announced the arrest of two men from the Bronx, NY for allegedly stealing used cooking oil and grease from a restaurant in Kent.

According to cspnews.org, Troopers from Troop L were dispatched to an unnamed restaurant in Kent at 2:43am on 9/23/24 to check on a burglary alarm. When Troopers arrived on scene, they observed two men in a white Ford van with New York plates exit from a parking lot behind the restaurant and take off onto Route 7.

Troopers were able to stop the van, but during their investigation determined that there was a language barrier. A New Milford Police Officer responded to the scene of the traffic stop to assist with translation. Police have identified the driver of the van as Carlos Salas, 45, and the passenger as Joan Mendez-Martinez, 26, both from Bronx, NY. Salas allegedly told the investigators that he and Mendez-Martinez were in the area to clean up the kitchens at 10 area restaurants, but was unable to provide additional details as to which restaurants, and how were cleaning each.

Troopers observed two 250 gallon vats in the back of the van that appeared to be 1/3 full of used cooking oils and grease, and Salas and Mendez-Martinez were unable to produce the proper documentation required to possess the grease. Troopers then returned to the restaurant and discovered the seal attached to it's grease trap had been broken, with a fresh trail of grease on the ground.

Salas and Mendez-Martinez were both taken into custody and charged with 2nd Degree Burglary, 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief, and 6th Degree Larceny. Salas was released on a $5,000 bond, and will appear in Torrington Superior Court on 10/7/24. Mendez-Martinez was held on a $5,000 bond and was arraigned at Torrington Superior Court on 9/23/24.