[1]The aftermath at Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
It appears as though someone snuck onto the Winlock area property of the world’s largest auctioneer of heavy equipment and held an unsanctioned demolition derby with four large trucks over the weekend.
The break-in was reported yesterday to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, who estimate more than $15,000 in damage to three of four 2010 International Cargo trucks.
Unknown suspects entered into the fenced yard and drove the trucks around the gravel lot, leaving them with side impact damage, according to the sheriff’s office.
“These are big yellow Penske rental trucks have been turned over to Ritchie Brothers,” Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
A bucket truck on the premises also sustained broken windows, possibly from a rock, according to Brown.
Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers is on the west side of Interstate 5 on the 200 block of Ritchie Lane.
The incident is believed to have occurred sometime after 10:15 a.m. on Saturday and before 9 a.m. yesterday.