POLICE have warned of a bizarre new crime trend in North Wales.

North Wales Police (NWP) has said it has been made aware of a crime trend involving the theft of used cooking oil recently.

Police said while this would seem a strange thing to steal, used cooking oil has value for things like bio fuels and other purposes.

A NWP spokesperson said: "We would ask all food outlets in the area to be alert for this type of crime.

"Please secure all used cooking oil and make sure that if you have a contract to have it collected you check to confirm that it is that legitimate company that you are dealing with and not a criminal gang pretending to be from a real waste company."