St. Louis, MO (March 3, 2026) Grease theft is on the rise as the demand for used cooking oil (UCO) continues to grow. Recycling companies across the country lose an estimated $300 million to $500 million in revenue each year due to stolen grease, according to the North American Renderers Association, and that’s just from reported thefts. Many instances go undetected, making the true cost even higher. Ace Grease Service has created a new, theft-deterrent lid that will help crack down on grease thieves and make it significantly more difficult to steal UCO.
Used cooking oil is considered “liquid gold” on the black market because it can be used to produce renewable diesel fuel, animal feed, and other consumer products, making it an attractive target for criminals. Many restaurants partner with licensed grease collection and recycling companies, and in some cases, may even receive a rebate for their used oil. UCO is often stored in large containers placed outside dumpsters for scheduled pickup. Thieves frequently take advantage of these vulnerable locations, arriving after hours in unmarked trucks to siphon the oil and disappear undetected. These actions often result in significant property damage to the business.
Wes Williamson, Director of Security and Asset Protection at Ace Grease Service, noted that in many cases, the same thieves will strike 20-30 restaurants in one night.
“In our industry, cooking oil is comparable to copper and catalytic converters,” said Williamson. “It’s a commodity and worth a lot of money, and anytime there’s value, someone’s going to try to steal it. Many small, local restaurants rely on the rebates we offer to recover what they’ve invested in, but we can only provide those rebates if we’re able to collect the oil. If it’s stolen, there’s nothing to credit them for.”
As a retired local and federal law enforcement agent of 29 years, Williamson is an expert in tracking criminal patterns. To combat the growing grease theft issue, Williamson said Ace Grease has developed a specially designed theft-deterrent lid for its containers, aimed at making it significantly harder for thieves to gain access to the used cooking oil.
“We studied how thieves were breaking into UCO containers,” said Williamson. “They would cut through the wire grates, use narrow hoses to slip between openings, and break exposed locks. So, we hid the lock and reengineered the container into a two-part system. There’s the main can, and then a separate security lid that’s bolted on. That way, if the can gets damaged, we can just reuse the lid on a new one. Other designs are harder to repair because they’re a single piece. Thanks to the help of our in-house welder, I think we’ve created one of the most secure lids in the industry.”
Ace Grease has already deployed over 500 of these theft-deterrent lids to business owners and plans to roll out even more in the near future. The theft of used cooking oil is considered a property crime, and offenders can face serious consequences, including jail time, fines of up to tens of thousands of dollars, and court-ordered community service.