LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — A 19-year-old man from Silver Spring was arrested Wednesday morning after police say he was caught stealing grease from behind multiple restaurants.
According to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, deputies were near the Lexington Village shopping center in Lexington Park when they noticed a suspicious car with someone inside at Golden Chicken.
The man, later identified as Hamsel Lugo Peralta, allegedly told a deputy that he was taking used oil grease from the Valley Proteins dumpster at the rear of the business.
Investigators claim a nearby grease dumpster behind a Pizza Boli's restaurant, also had two locks broken.
Peralta reportedly told deputies he was able to open the top door of the Pizza Boli's dumpster and inserted a hose in to suck the grease out into a 330-gallon container inside the vehicle.
Officers believe Peralta was attempting to breach the dumpster behind Golden Chicken when caught by deputies.
They estimated that the two 330-gallon tanks in the vehicle would be worth $3,000.
Peralta was arrested and is facing charges of theft and destruction of property.