Thieves hit rock bottom

Published 11:03 am Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sequim resident Pamela Clayton returned home last week from a vacation and found her decorative quarry rocks had been stolen. She has no idea how someone was able to move the oversized rocks weighing several hundred pounds each. The rocks cost Clayton about $900.

"It’s just plain old brazen of someone," Clayton said.

Clayton has been working with Der Smith, owner of The "Land" Smith, for the past year installing a new rock wall and landscaping her property. Smith said the rocks are called "four-man rocks" for a reason.

"I’ve heard of people stealing gravel, but not big rocks," Smith said.

Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Peregrin said it’s not common to have items like rocks stolen but it does happen. This theft occurs mostly at new housing developments and landscaping projects.

Clayton plans to replace the giant rocks, but she will spray paint the backs of them with fluorescent pink paint to deter thieves.