RI police arrest 'bathroom bandit'

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island police have arrested a man dubbed the "bathroom bandit" and charged him with stealing plumbing fixtures to sell as scrap metal.

Warwick Police say 58-year-old Christopher Stewart of Cranston was arrested Thursday and charged with nine counts of larceny.

An employee of a Wendy's restaurant called police last week to report someone had taken plumbing fixtures from their men's room. Eight similar incidents have since been reported.

Police say they believe the suspect stole the metal fixtures to sell as scrap. In one case, more than $1,500 worth of automatic flush valves was taken from a public restroom. The valves fetch $10 to $15 as scrap but cost hundreds of dollars to replace.

Stewart is being held pending his arraignment. It was unclear Thursday if he had an attorney.