Fruitland Police Catch Two Stealing Restaurant Cooking Oil

Wicomico County, MD - On July 27, 2026, officers with the Fruitland Police Department were doing a routine business check at a local restaurant when they came across something unusual. A white Ford Econoline van was parked behind the building. It didn't take long for officers to figure out something was off.

Two men were with the van. Cesar Alfonso Ramirez Mendez and Elian Enrique Mendez Para, both 25, were seen standing near it. One is from Staten Island, New York, and the other from Long Island, New York.

After a short investigation, officers learned the two had cut the lock on the restaurant's used cooking oil container. They were syphoning the oil into a makeshift tank built into the back of the van. Police say the pair had already collected a large amount of oil before they were caught.

Investigators believe this wasn't a one time thing. They think the men may have pulled off the same scheme at other restaurants across the Eastern Shore of Maryland. New York State Police have already put out warnings to businesses there about the same kind of theft.

If you own a restaurant on the Eastern Shore, it might be worth checking your used oil system.

If it looks tampered with, report it to your local police department right away.

Fruitland Police also suggest adding a security camera near your oil storage area and posting signs that the space is under surveillance.

Used cooking oil might not seem like something worth stealing, but it can actually be resold for a decent profit, which is likely why it keeps happening. A little extra security could go a long way in stopping the next attempt before it starts.

If you catch someone trying to steal oil on camera, police are asking that you contact them right away so the people responsible can be taken into custody.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.