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Alleged cooking oil thief nabbed in East Lyme

January 04, 2023 4:19 pm • Last Updated: January 04, 2023 5:03 pm

East Lyme ― Police arrested an alleged cooking oil thief early Wednesday who they say was caught with burglary tools while parked behind a closed restaurant where oil thefts had occurred in the past.

Samuel Melo-Cruz, 28, of Stamford, was charged with possession of burglary tools, third-degree criminal trespass, improper use of a marker plate and driving without a license.

Police said his vehicle was spotted parked behind the Great Wall Chinese restaurant at 170 Flanders Road. The restaurant is one of several restaurants across the region where oil thefts have occurred.The oil is sold on the black market.

During a motor vehicle stop just past 3 a.m., police said they found burglary tools associated with the theft of cooking oil and large plastic containers, some containing cooking oil in Melo-Cruz’s vehicle.

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