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A retired police officer who saw a TV news story about the Dec. 28 thefts recognized a van that police said the thieves used -- and had taken several photos of it, including the license plate number, which Police Chief Dean Ackermann said wasn't visible on surveillance video.
Before long, borough police arrested Adriz Valdes-Perez, 28, of Jersey City, and Francisco Abreu, 29, of Union City.
Surveillance video shows the pair pulling around back in a white cargo van, getting out and removing the locks from the drums before pumping out the contents with a large hose, police said.
The demand has increased for "yellow grease," which is used to make biodiesel fuel, Ackermann said.
"Haulers pay to lug away used cooking oil that can be refined into different types of biofuels used for power generation and heating," the chief said.
The owner of the property told police that he collects the used oil from two restaurants that leave it in drums behind the Maple Avenue shopping center.
The value of the stolen grease is about $400, Ackermann said.
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