Call it the great carpet capers.
At the end of last month, two young men walked into the Madonna Hotel and snatched a carpet with the gorgeous San Luis Obispo hotel logo from the lobby of the steakhouse, with a large pink "M" on it.
The hotel’s long-term manager, Connie Pearce, is known for her themed rooms, plentiful pink decorations and waterfall urinals. The staff chased them and they rushed into a waiting escape car. "But they too fast".
The guests watched the event at around 10:40pm on September 25th.
Pierce was "cameras everywhere" in a facility opened by her parents in the late 1950s. She posted surveillance stills of two men wearing masks on Nextdoor and Facebook. The local news reported the story of the robbery. Sympathetic comments have poured in, but there are no specific clues.
A few weeks later, the whereabouts of the carpet and the identity of the thief remained elusive. Although the thrown object worth about $250 has been replaced, it has not been forgotten.
Pierce hopes the thieves will return the relics and express regret for their actions.
"It would be great if they brought it back and apologized," said Pierce, who has managed the hotel for 40 years. "I want people to know that I don't appreciate it and we don't have time to do it."
She believes that four people were involved in the robbery: two people photographed by the camera, a fugitive driver of a black Ford Focus, and another person who ran away before entering the hotel.
Pearce decided not to report the incident to the police, but did contact the officials of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. When the theft happened, the school had just started, and she suspected that it might be the work of the students, it might be to fulfill the brotherhood's oath or mischief. Cuesta College, a nearby community college, also has classes.
"I assume it's on the wall in someone's dormitory or somewhere," Pierce said, adding that the university officials inspecting the dormitory would pay attention to the carpet.
"So it will eventually show up unless they throw it in the trash can," she said. "But I think this is a big reward for them."
Officials at California Institute of Technology stated that there is no indication that the suspect is connected to the university. Matt Lazier, the school's director of media relations, said that because the incident took place off campus, it was not under the jurisdiction of the university police.
"The university encourages hotels to report this to the San Luis Obispo police," Lazier said in an email.
He said that if the city police determine that a student is involved, the information will be provided to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities "to take appropriate action."
Captain Brian Amoroso, a spokesman for the San Luis Obispo Police Department, warned against speculation.
He has watched the video, and although he admitted that "they look a bit like college years," he added, "but that doesn't mean they are in college or even in the fraternity."
Amoroso does not remember similar hoax thefts related to the university or the fraternity. More common are incidents involving underage drinking and students driving under the influence. Sometimes people will steal their favorite street signs and drag them back to their dorms.
"We are a university town, and sometimes you will see some very interesting cases," he said.
The Madonna Inn, the most popular pit stop on the Central Coast, also moved out other unexpected items.
Pierce said that a few years ago, a man stole a 6-inch special cake from a bakery. Later he came back and paid for the cakes.
Sometimes people will ship back the items they stole long after the incident. Pierce said she received a goblet and silverware with the hotel's name printed on it.
For reports and exclusive analysis from Bureau Chief John Myers, please get our California Political Newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Lila Seidman reports trends and breaking news for the Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
The increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in parts of California is a potentially ominous sign
Governor Newsom's sudden absence has returned to public view after speculation on social media
27 coolest Los Angeles-made gifts to give this year
Los Angeles Times 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
The increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in parts of California is a potentially ominous sign
Governor Newsom's sudden absence has returned to public view after speculation on social media
27 coolest Los Angeles-made gifts to give this year
Where is my order? Track a container through a broken global supply chain
Los Angeles County records its first flu death in 2021-22 season
According to the draft Congress map, incumbents in California may face re-election challenges
Whittier woman arrested for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards
Apple computers made by Wozniak and Jobs sold for $500,000 at auction in Southern California
Macmillar pleads guilty for overdose of fentanyl for second time