Vernon man charged in oil theft

FRANKLIN — A Vernon man faces charges after Franklin police investigated an oil theft in the borough.
Dmitri Kniazev, 40, was charged on Monday, Sept. 17, with one count of theft as the value of the tank and oil was more than $850.
Police said on Aug. 31, patrols responded to the Asia Lee restaurant on Route 23 in Franklin to take a report of a stolen oil container that contained 200 gallons of oil.
Asia Lee restaurant reportedly hired Darling Ingredients for oil service, to clean and remove oil from their business. When Asia Lee terminated their partnership with Darling Ingredients, employees were sent to recover equipment commonly left with the business, in this case a 200-gallon oil tank said to have 200 gallons of oil in it. Employees from Darling Ingredients discovered the oil and tank missing.
During the Course of the investigation the equipment was found at a restaurant in Denville, New Jersey with a sticker of a company on it, specifically H.V.E.
Police said the owner of Kniazev — the owner of H.V.E., was found to have removed the tank and oil from the Asia Lee restaurant sometime in early August and used the equipment at another restaurant in Denville.
Following his arrest, Kniazev was released in accordance with the guidelines on New Jersey's bail system.