oddly enough

oddly enough

New Mexico man’s error costs him thousands on bill

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

A New Mexico man said he made an error while paying his electric bill that led him to overpay by thousands of dollars.

The Public Service Company of New Mexico said it could take weeks to get him his money back.

KOB-TV reported that Rio Rancho attorney Ira Karmiol overpaid a $278 bill online earlier this month when he inadvertently hit a fourth digit. He said he paid $2,787 because of the typo he didn’t catch.

When he noticed the error a few days later, Karmiol said he contacted the utility company, which said its policy required three to four weeks to process a refund request.

A utility spokesman said he can’t discuss problems with specific customers, but that issues like these are ordinarily resolved “as quickly as possible.”

Store clerk tells bandit to bug off with spray can

BERLIN, Pa.

A western Pennsylvania convenience-store clerk told a would-be bandit to bug off by spraying the suspect with a can of insecticide.

State police say a masked woman entered the CSI Coalfield Mini Market in Berlin, Pa., on Sunday night.

Store clerk Annabelle Miller told WJAC-TV that’s when she took matters — and the can of bug spray — into her own hands.

Miller said she refused to give the woman money and waited for her to leave. When she began to retreat, Miller sprayed the woman in the face as the suspect left the store.

The whole thing was caught on the store’s surveillance system.

Miller said she’s glad she confronted the would-be bandit, saying, “I just got mad. I’ve got better things to do with my night than that.”

Man accused of stealing restaurant’s plumbing

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

Police said they’ve flushed out a man accused of stealing the handles and pipes of toilets in parks and restaurant restrooms around a Florida city.

St. Petersburg police said that they arrested a 28-year-old homeless man. He is accused of stealing the plumbing from Cracker Barrel, Burger King, Bob Evans and other restaurants. Police released a photo of a pile of metal toilet parts that they said Brian Rinda stole.

Police said Rinda caused about $1,000 in damage and traded the brass valve and piping at a county recycling center.

Rinda was charged with eight counts of grand theft and one count of petit theft.

Rinda is being held at county jail on $20,000 bail. It’s unclear whether he retained an attorney.

Associated Press