Wichita Falls Grease Trap Thefts Hit Four Restaurants One Night

Looks like several restaurants in Wichita Falls were stolen from over the weekend, but not from a safe. From those precious grease traps in their parking lots.

Homer and Bart's Grease Business from 'The Simpsons'

I seem to remember an episode of 'The Simpsons' where Homer and Bart went around town stealing grease. Turns out that is what a pair of guys decided to do on their Saturday night in Wichita Falls.

Pair Arrested for Theft from Wichita Falls Restaurants

If you didn't know. Restaurants are paid to recycle their grease. Recycling and collection companies generally pay restaurants around 18 cents a pound to pump it away. That grease can be worth up to 41 cents a pound. Which then can be used in things like biodiesel, animal feed, and industrial products like soap and lubricants. These two decided to steal the grease after a busy Saturday night before the real company came in to collect.

Wichita Falls Restaurants Affected by Grease Theft

According to the Wichita Falls Police Department, the two were caught at the Braums off Call Field Road around 1:30 in the morning loading their truck with stolen grease. Police got reports that another three restaurants were affected that night and they approximated how much stolen grease was taken from each.

Grand Buffet — $1,000 worth of grease allegedly stolen
Bricktown Taphouse — $1,500 worth of grease allegedly stolen
Chili’s — $250 worth of grease allegedly stolen
Braum’s — $560 worth of grease allegedly stolen

I.C.E. Currently Has Detained the Two Suspects

Ismael Cuevas Rodarte, of Newark, Texas, and Jesus Alonso Diaz-Hernandez, of Sylmar, California, were both booked into the Wichita County Jail on Saturday morning, July 11, 2026, on a charge of theft over $2,500 and under $30,000. According to KFDX, the two suspects are now in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.