Destruction of Palomares House sculpture disturbing

When I first read about the theft of the beautiful metal hawk sculpture from the Palomares House, I was upset, thinking how selfish that someone would steal such an exquisite piece of art just for his own enjoyment.

Then when I read editor Debbie Ramsey’s story in a subsequent issue that the thieves had cut up the sculpture merely to sell it as scrap metal, I was shocked by such Philistine vandalism.

Chopping up a magnificent sculpture just to sell its 110 pounds of bronze for a paltry $198 is incomprehensible.

Later I read a story in the North County Times of a man who was electrocuted in East County while attempting to steal copper wire from power lines.

Today I read of the housing crisis that has led to the boarding-up of two million houses across the country because people could no longer make payments after their interest rates reset. Vandals have been breaking into these homes, not as squatters but to strip out copper plumbing and wires. Many of the homes were new.

With the crashing dollar, metals such as copper, bronze and aluminum have soared in value.

Theft and crime always rise with a decaying economy, but what we really have here is a decaying ethic. I worry about more thefts of this sort in Fallbrook every time I admire the beautiful pieces of metal sculpture in downtown. Fallbrook homeowners must now take additional precaution for their jewelry and other valuables.

Joe Howard Crews