A thief's credit card scam was foiled after he clogged a motel toilet trying to dispose of the stolen plastic.
Salt Lake police were called to Motel 6, 176 W. 600 South, Thursday about 3 p.m. after plumbers discovered several cut-up credit cards and torn checks inside a clogged toilet in the man's room.
The 21-year-old Salt Lake man had asked motel management if he could switch rooms because of the clogged toilet. He had spent 11 days at the motel, police said.
Police arrested the man and recovered several items they say were stolen during three separate car prowls in Idaho and Salt Lake City.
The stolen property included three wallets, three cellular phones, several credit cards and a driver's license, police said. The man was wanted on an outstanding warrant, and the license plates on his car were stolen, police said.
The man remained in the Salt Lake County Jail Friday night.