It's a pretty simple arrangement. You pay your bill, you get your water. You don't pay, and your water is shut off. But one Punta Gorda man found a way to cheat the system.

After Scott Bishop racked up nearly $500 in unpaid bills, the city disconnected his water. So Bishop went straight to his groundwater box and turned the water back on himself. When the Utilities Department realized this, they disconnected his water again, and put a pad lock on the meter. But a couple weeks later, you guessed it, the lock was cut off and the water was back on.

"Four times the pad lock was cut off and the water service turned back on," Capt. Tom Lewis of the Punta Gorda Police said.

That is, until Monday, when Bishop was finally arrested and charged with Theft of Services and Criminal Mischief. It's a crime Capt. Lewis worries with the troubled economy, could happen more and more. "Those particular people should communicate with the city," Lewis said. "We are certainly not unreasonable. In this particular incident, we certainly didn't even address it from a criminal standpoint until he had cut off four locks."

We stopped by Bishop's apartment today but told he was at work and he did not return our call. Bishop's landlord wished to remain anonymous, but tells us he'll more than likely have to foot the bill.

The Punta Gorda Utilities Department tells us they usually disconnect peoples' water after 2 to 3 months of unpaid bills. But, they are willing to work with you, so if you're having trouble, give them a call.