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Police Scotland has revealed that organised crime groups are increasingly targeting chip shops, takeaways, and restaurants to steal their used cooking oil. This oil is typically stored in containers outside these establishments for collection and recycling, often being processed into biodiesel—a renewable fuel used to power vehicles such as buses and tractors.
Between April and October of last year, there were 178 reported cases of cooking oil thefts throughout Scotland. Grant Cranston, co-owner of Hilton Chip Shop in Inverness, expressed his astonishment at the audacity of the thieves who stole oil from his premises. He described the thefts occurring in broad daylight, even with people nearby who could witness the crime. Caterers can earn approximately 30p per litre of used oil depending on quantity and quality, making the stolen oil a notable financial loss.
The total value of stolen cooking oil reported last year amounted to around £20,000, according to Police Scotland. Chief Inspector Craig Still, who oversees the Inverness area, noted that roughly 20 incidents were recorded there in the same period. He highlighted the multifaceted impact of these thefts, including inconvenience, property damage from unauthorized entry, and the direct loss of product revenue. He emphasized that an organised criminal network was likely involved, with stolen oil being sold to legitimate recycling businesses that convert it into biodiesel fuel.
For businesses like Cranston’s chip shop, these thefts add to existing challenges. Cranston pointed out that the fish and chips industry is already struggling with rising costs, including VAT and general overheads. He also stressed the positive environmental aspect of properly disposing of used cooking oil by allowing it to be recycled. Meanwhile, Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, noted that repeated thefts are a significant national issue. Some establishments face substantial financial setbacks when oil containers vanish, causing loss of credits from recycling collection schemes. Police Scotland advises that to deter theft, businesses should keep oil containers in secure, well-lit areas and use CCTV wherever possible. Inspector Still added that their prevention team is available to offer advice on improving security at affected locations
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