2 New York men accused of stealing grease from Kent restaurant

KENT, Conn. (WTNH) — Two New York residents were arrested after state police say they were caught stealing more than a hundred pounds of grease from a local restaurant.

Police said troopers were dispatched to the restaurant around 2:42 a.m. on Monday, where a burglary alarm was going off after closing hours.

Upon arrival, they found a white Ford van with New York license plates with two men inside exiting the business’ parking lot and getting onto Route 7 southbound.

The van was stopped and the occupants reportedly told troopers they were driving to about 10 different restaurants in the area to clean their kitchens. However, they were not able to provide troopers a list or any documentation proving the jobs.

Two 250-gallon vats filled about a third full with cooking grease were seen in plain view in the vehicle. Based on this evidence and the interaction, both suspects were taken into custody.

Carlos Alberto Salas and Joan M. Mendez-Martinez were both charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, and sixth-degree larceny.

Salas was released on a $5,000 cash/surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Torrington Superior Court on Oct. 7. Mendez-Martinez was held on the same amount and is scheduled for arraignment at Torrington Superior Court on Sept. 23.

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