Florida police flush out toilet thief

photo This undated photo provided by the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Police Department shows stolen plumbing parts. Police say they've flushed out a man accused of stealing the handles and pipes of toilets in parks and restaurant restrooms around St. Petersburg, Fla. Police arrested 28-year-old Brian Rinda, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 and charged him with eight counts of grand theft and 1 count of petit theft. (AP Photo/St. Petersburg (Fla.) Police Department)
photo This undated photo provided by the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Police Department shows Brian Rinda. Police say they've flushed out Rinda, a man accused of stealing the handles and pipes of toilets in parks and restaurant restrooms around St. Petersburg, Fla. Police arrested 28-year-old Brian Rinda, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 and charged him with eight counts of grand theft and 1 count of petit theft. (AP Photo/St. Petersburg (Fla.) Police Department)

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.

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