LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— It's another busy Friday for pizza places in our area, but for two in Luzerne county they are now down more than just sauce and cheese.
That's because two men are locked up after police say they stole used cooking oil from the businesses.
In the early evening hours of Friday during Lent, Pizza L'oven in Exeter was slammed with a busy crowd.
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"Chaos, but controlled chaos," said Mike Perhach, Owner, Pizza L'oven Exeter.
But nearly 12 hours prior to the Friday night rush, the place was getting robbed.
At 4:30 a.m. this U-Haul van backed up behind the restaurant next to the two used cooking oil tanks.
Sergeant Cinfinchi says he arrived on scene to find Wilkin Agramonte and Rafel Lopez hopping the fence and running off after stealing oil.
They were then captured and brought into custody.
"This isn't the first time this has happened in this area. It's about the 3rd or 4th arrest we have made," stated Sgt. Cinfinchi.
And Pizza L'oven wasn't their only target on Friday.
First, police say the men stopped at Pizza Bella in Jenkins Township to load up too.
"Silly it's just silly. There's other ways to make money than be doing that," voiced Perhach.
Pizza L'oven is open four days a week and owner Mike Perhach says they bring in 30 jugs of oil in those four days.
He says each jug cost around $25.
On Friday, 250 gallons were stolen from his restaurant and 100 from Pizza Bella.
"They have a really nice setup," stated Sgt. Cinfinchi.
The oil company contracted with the two pizza parlors, Buffalo Biodiesel, says they have lost millions of dollars from oil theft that has taken place nationwide.
The company says Pennsylvania, unfortunately has become a hot spot.
"Keep 'em coming. The more they show up the more they are going to get caught," added Perhach.
The two men facing charges have been arrested several times in the past on accusations of stealing cooking oil here in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Police say they were caught in Lackawanna County too.
