Public restrooms are the most recent target for thieves.
What could be of interest in a bathroom? Apparently, the toilet valves.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating three missing valves from the Dunedin Library men’s restroom.
“It’s our city tax dollars, so we’re really hurting our own people by stealing something so simple as this,” library director Phyllis Gorshe said.
As strange as it might sound, the library is just one of three places reporting missing toilet valves. Gorshe said a valve also went missing from the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum.
“Why would they want that? Who would want that? It’s dirty!” said Lisa Holland, who was visiting the museum.
The thefts do not stop there. The men’s restroom at the main branch of the Clearwater Public Library is out of order because someone took the valves to all of the toilets. Without the valves, the toilets won’t flush.
“In all of the time that I’ve been in libraries both here and libraries all across the country, I have never heard of this particular kind of situation coming up before,” said Barbara Pickell, the Clearwater Public Library director.
Pickell said she filed a police report with the Clearwater Police Department. Her security staff is looking through camera footage in an effort to flush out the culprit.
“Since I’ve been here today, I have been searching through the videos to see if I can identify anyone,” said Toby Malloy, a police aid to the library
The Dunedin library is closed all week for planned renovations. Now, they have to repair the toilets, too. The cost, Gorshe said, is $150 per toilet.
A spokesperson for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office tells Bay News 9 they believe whoever took the valve knew what they were doing because they turned the water off.
According to the Sheriff’s Office the Dunedin Library toilet valves were taken last Wednesday.
Gorshe said the Historical Society and Museum valve was reported missing on Thursday the same day Pickell said the Clearwater Library’s valves vanished.