Pizzeria owner accused of dumping mice in rival shops

Want a lesson on how not to succeed in business? Pull up a chair — or in the case one suspicious shop owner in Upper Darby, a toilet seat.

NBCPhilly has the long and strange … tale of a pizza shop owner who allegedly planted white mice in his rival’s store. Two UD cops were inside eating lunch when a man strolled in with a “suspicious” package. He went into the restaurant’s bathroom and came out sans bag. The owner of Verona Pizza on West Chester Pike went into the bathroom to check it out, saw footprints on the toilet seat and that suspicious bag tucked in the ceiling tiles. Thinking it might contain something illegal, he turned the bag over to the lunching officers.

Upon opening it, three white mice were discovered. No word on whether the police officers needed to use the restrooms themselves after seeing that.

The alleged culprit is Nikolas Galiatsatos, owner of Nina’s Bella Pizzeria, also on West Chester Pike. He’s also accused of “mouse dropping” at another competitor’s — Uncle Nick’s, across from Verona. Galiatsatos was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, harassment, and animal cruelty.

Nina’s Bella has only been open a short time, say police, which may account for the mouse sabotage.