Authorities say this crime may soon be as popular as the theft of copper.

Braselton Police Sgt. J.D. Gille says he only recently became aware of the thefts of cooking oil from local restaurants.

Typically, restaurants put the leftover oil in a bin and a recycler pays them to pick it up.  The oil, which can be turned into biodiesel fuel, can bring in hundreds of dollars.

Gille says upon further investigation, he found several cases, 14 in Braselton, and others in Hall, Jackson, Banks, Barrow, and Gwinnett counties.

So far, two people have been arrested in the Braselton:  Jason Dehart and Jessica Edgar.