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Man accused of stealing restaurant’s plumbing

By WTOP Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Police say they’ve flushed out a man accused of stealing the handles and pipes of toilets in parks and restaurant restrooms around a Florida city.

St. Petersburg police said Friday that they arrested a 28-year-old homeless man. He is accused of stealing the plumbing from Cracker Barrel, Burger King, Bob Evans and other restaurants. Police released a photo of a pile of metal toilet parts that they say Brian Rinda stole.

Police say Rinda caused about $1,000 in damage and traded the brass valve and piping at a county recycling center.

Rinda was charged with eight counts of grand theft and 1 count of petit theft.

Rinda is being held at county jail on $20,000 bail. It’s unclear whether he retained an attorney.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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