SUMNER, Wash. — When two burglars were caught on surveillance cameras scoping out the fence of Wayne's Roofing in Sumner on Sept. 26, it was only hours after workers at the family-owned business gathered for a memorial to honor a fellow worker of 22 years, who had just died.
"We were having a celebration of life for him down the street, and that ended probably nine or ten o'clock at night," said Rod Wetherbee, who runs the business founded by his father.
Hours later, two men wearing painter's masks peered through a window at a schedule board, appearing to check what time the company's workers would show up in the morning.
"They just cut the fence all the way down with bolt cutters and then split it open," said Dave Wetherbee.
The two were recorded rifling through company trucks, before loading several thousand dollars worth of a very specialized roofing material few companies can even install.
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"It's used for commercial waterproofing for low-slope roof applications," said Rod Wetherbee, adding that each roll of "Sarnafil" weighs 400 lbs. Similar materials were stolen in a burglary in March.
Wetherbee offered a $5000 reward for information he would relay to the Pierce County Sheriff's office. He said the injury from the theft wasn't only financial. He says it was the timing of the burglary, when they were grieving the loss of a colleague.
"It's not just a crime to the company, it's a crime to our employees, it's a crime to this community," he said.
"What I want them to know is 'we're coming after you.' We're going to find out who you are and we're willing to do what it takes to find you."
Cox Media Group
