Water theft

The Times-Standard in Humboldt County (northern California) reports that someone swiped 20,000 gallons of water. From a school:

Bridgeville Elementary School was reopened Wednesday after being forced to close for a day when staff discovered up to 20,000 gallons of water had been stolen from an onsite water tank during the Labor Day weekend.

”There were tire tracks in the field on the south side of the school,” Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Steve Knight said. “The school staff believes someone climbed the fence, and used a school garden hose to drain the tank.”

Knight said it is believed a water truck or large truck and trailer with water tanks were used in the theft. He said the reason behind the theft is unknown.

Who’d do such a thing? Bruce Ross, who commits journalism for a living in that part of the country, offered this hypothesis: