Oil stealing thieves masquerading as a registered business have targeted a smokehouse in a Norfolk village.

The popular Smokehouse restaurant on Yarmouth Road in Ormesby St Margaret was approached by a van of men claiming to be part of a registered waste company on Friday.

Fortunately the restaurant quickly realised their lack of credentials.

The unauthorised van attempted to take the Smokehouse's used cooking oil (Image: The Ormesby Smokehouse) A spokesman for the restaurant said: "We posted the van to make other businesses in the local area be aware and stay vigilant."

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Thieves often target takeaways, pubs and restaurants to steal their used oil to create biodiesel, an unregulated alternative fuel for diesel vehicles and heating.

Criminals will often masquerade as legitimate grease collectors coming to collect a restaurant's oil to steal the barrels - driving transit vans which store large drums of oil in their rear.

Inspired by a southern-style diner, the Ormesby Smokehouse serves American fare such as burgers and home-smoked meat using a signature recipe rub.

The restaurant has its very own smokehouse lager and an outside smoke yard which features live music.

Norfolk Police were contacted for comment.