Youngil Kim, 48, and Byung Ho Choi, 55, both of Queens were caught stealing oil behind a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant in North Bergen, NJ.

Youngil Kim, 48, and Byung Ho Choi, 55, both of Queens were caught stealing oil behind a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant in North Bergen, NJ.

By STEPHANIE BARISH wpix.com

3:14 p.m. EDT, September 21, 2010
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (WPIX)—
New Jersey police busted two men Monday as they were attempting to siphon 700 gallons of used cooking oil from two storage tanks behind a local fast food restaurant in broad daylight.

The suspects, Youngil Kim, 48, and Byung Ho Choi, 55, both of Queens were caught in the act behind a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant located at 2100 88th Street just before 9 a.m., police said.

Detective Lt. Frank Cannella said the men drove up to the fast food restaurant in a canary yellow van, equipped with a hose that was attached to a generator. The oil was reportedly stored in a plastic bags in the back, which were ultimately confiscated by police.

The value of the used oil was estimated to be worth $1,600.

Waste oil can be turned into biodiesel fuel and the restaurant actually sells its used oil to a contractor for a little more than $1 a gallon.

Officers believe the pair may have also struck on the morning of September 11. The manager of the restaurant told detectives he recognized the yellow van and called police when he noticed the men.

The men were arrested on two counts of theft each after they were spotted on surveillance tape from the incident on Sept. 11.

Bail was set at $10,000 for each of the men and were taken to Hudson Count Jail.