Delco man arrested in pipe pilfering from fast-food restaurants
He's held in 25G bail after 3-month probe
A man who police say ripped plumbing from urinals and toilets in 15 area fast-food restaurants over the summer finds himself behind metal he can't crack - prison-cell bars.
Daniel Rushton, 27, of Westpark Lane near Crestwood Drive in Clifton Heights, was arrested this week and charged with numerous counts of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief after a three-month investigation by police departments in Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
As police suspected, Rushton is a plumber, East Norriton Detective Jean Morrison said.
"He's very familiar and able to work that kind of job, so it was a very easy process for him," she said. "He was also aware that there was a decent amount of money to be found by scrapping these metals."
Rushton told police that he had sold all of the fixtures to Philadelphia scrapyards to support his drug habit, Morrison said.
Three of the restaurants, all in Brookhaven, Delaware County, were hit on the same night. Brookhaven Police Chief John Eller and said surveillance video and observant witnesses led police to Rushton.
One witness opened the bathroom door on Rushton and saw him unloading tools from his backpack, Eller said. When she told him to leave, he allegedly cursed her out.
Rushton did leave, but not before the witness got a good look at him, Eller said.
In a separate incident, a McDonald's plumber who said he confronted Rushton, wrote down his license-plate number and the make and model of his car before Rushton sped away, police said.
"They all happened while the restaurants were open. There wasn't any burglary," Eller said. "This guy took a big chance. He was confronted and seen on two occasions but kept on going."
Rushton, who Morrison said confessed to his crimes, remains at the Delaware County Prison on $25,000 bail. *