ST. PETERSBURG — Apparently, crooks who know trust Crisco.

Four days after bandits in St. Petersburg slipped away with a truck stuffed with containers of the shortening, here's where things stand: Truck found, still no sign of the Crisco.

Authorities found the semitrailer late Monday abandoned in Hialeah. It was originally bound for a Publix distribution center in Lakeland before it was stolen from Coastal Towing on 118th Ave. N, according to St. Petersburg police.

The 36,000 pounds of shortening once inside the semitrailer stolen Sunday is still missing, police said Wednesday.

Here is a rundown of what you should know:

What is Crisco?

Crisco is a brand known for cooking oils and shortening, which is notably all-vegetable-based. The company touts its shortening as containing 50 percent less saturated fat than butter. It can be used for anything from sweet potato pie to pork chops.

36,000 pounds seems like a lot of Crisco.

It's roughly 18 tons of Crisco sticks, essentially long, slender blocks of shortening.

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that's more or less the weight of either 184 men or 217 women — or 35 manatees, according to numbers from savethemanatee.org.

It also matches the combined weight of 37 Steinway and Son's Model D Concert Grand pianos — the "ultimate piano," according to the company — or 12½ 2015 Toyota Corollas.

So, yes, it is a lot.

What's it worth on the street?

On Walmart's website, a 20-ounce pack of Crisco sticks sells for $3.32. Using that figure, the thieves' haul would account for about 28,800 packages, or $95,616 worth.

Where was the truck found?

Hialeah, a city northwest of Miami with approximately 233,000 residents. It is 257 miles away, a nearly four-hour drive from the St. Petersburg lot where it was stolen.

Whom should I call if I know something about the missing Crisco?

St. Petersburg police at (727) 893-7780. Also, after the police, call us at the Tampa Bay Times, (727) 893-8215.