It’s not the most glamorous of robberies.
Brian Rinda, 28, is accused of stealing the flushing handles and pipes from toilets in numerous park and restaurant restrooms.
Police said Rinda would remove the parts, causing up to $1,000 in damage, and trade the brass valve and piping at the a county recycling center for $36 to $40.
Police said Rinda hit several St. Petersburg restrooms at local Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King, Publix, Subway, Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, and Albert Whitted Park.
When police started receiving the reports, detectives checked with the recycling center records and matched the ID to the surveillance videos of Rinda leaving the restaurants. Anyone recycling scrap metal must provide identification.
Rinda is charged with eight counts grand theft and one count petit theft. Authorities are also looking into more possible cases in the county.