A Jersey Shore contractor accused of taking nearly a quarter-million dollars from 12 clients to perform work he never even started was arrested last week after more than a week on the run, authorities said.

Peter Rinaldi (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)

Peter Rinaldi, 56, of Little Egg Harbor, was taken into custody Friday near the Baymont Inn on East White Horse Pike in Galloway, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Rinaldi accepted checks totaling $247,225.63 between July 2014 through August 2016 after agreeing to handle renovations at private homes, according to officials. He did business under the company names of Donovan Mark Custom Builders, LLC and Mark Anthony Custom Builders, LLC.

Instead of using the money to buy supplies, he allegedly deposited the money into his personal bank account and cashed checks. None of the promised projects were started, the prosecutor's office said.

Rinaldi, who had been sought by the prosecutor's office since March 29, is charged with theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of property received.

Authorities are looking for additional victims and ask anyone who might have been victimized by Rinaldi to call Det. James Conroy at 732-814-1697.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.