In what appears to be a reflection of the current drought, a rural Mendocino County couple lost 3,000 gallons of water last weekend to someone who illicitly drained their above-ground storage tank overnight, authorities said.
Gualala resident Kathy Dimaio, 87, discovered the loss Saturday afternoon when she went outside to water her garden and found the tank unexpectedly dry, she said Tuesday.
Dimaio was so angry she could barely articulate her fury and frustration Tuesday. “This is just … aurghrgh!” she said.
It was the second time this year that the tank has been emptied, though Dimaio said her husband, Richard, was not convinced it was a theft first time around. The couple, longtime residents of Substation Road, did not report that first incident to law enforcement.
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