The Picayune Police Department is investigating a multi-state theft operation involving recyclable cooking grease following an incident at a local business on Friday, Dec. 13.

Officers were alerted to the ongoing theft and conducted surveillance at the business. During the evening, a vehicle arrived and was observed pumping grease from a storage tank. A traffic stop and subsequent interviews revealed that the theft was part of a more extensive operation spanning multiple states, costing the victim thousands of dollars in lost products.

Officers recovered a manifest listing several targeted locations, raising concerns that additional businesses may have been affected. The department is urging local companies with cooking grease storage tanks to review their surveillance footage for the suspect vehicle.

“This investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending at this time,” the department stated.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Pearl River County Central Dispatch at 601-749-5482 and request to speak with Picayune Police detectives.