EATERIES have been warned by police to keep their used cooking fat secure after a spate of thefts in the area.

The latest to be targeted was Wrights Fish & Chips, East Street, Ware, at about 3.25pm yesterday (Monday November 21), when four cans of used fat worth a total of £80 was stolen.

Esem Express in Ware High Street and Lussmanns Fish & Grill in Hertford’s Fore Street have also been targeted recently, with police linking the series of crimes.

Used oil and grease can be used to fuel vehicles, and theft of it has risen in the United States of America and Canada.

Ware neighbourhood sergeant Stuart Gunstone said: “I haven’t been made aware of it being a problem in the UK. It seems to be a specific group of offenders targeting a specific area.

“The problem is a lot of places leave their back doors open because it gets hot in the kitchen