JEFFERSON COUNTY, Alabama - Even the urinals are targets.

For thieves, that is.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is investigating a spate of thefts from urinals at several area restaurants. Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were called to the Captain D's restaurant in the 1100 block of Forestdale Boulevard on a report of a theft.

Once there, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian, they learned a man had gone into the restroom and stolen the flush valves and supply lines to the urinal. Somehow, he left without being noticed.

Investigators contacted other area businesses and found similar thefts elsewhere. The same thing had happened at Church's in the 1400 block of Forestdale Boulevard, and at Arby's down the street.

In each case, Christian said, the suspect avoided detection. The stolen pipes were not made of copper and have little scrap value.

"I really don't know what we have on our hands here. The first thought would be scrap, but these items would bring very little money," Christian said. "Maybe we have a plumber that is trying to cut his overhead cost, or some nut with a fetish I haven't heard of. To say this is an unusual theft case really doesn't do it justice."