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Brazen thieves made off with Banks Lake Pub’s 500-gallon propane tank sometime during the night, Aug. 19.

Staff arrived in the morning and when they tried to get the kitchen ready for business — no propane.

On checking the rear of the building, they noticed not only was the tank missing, but the thieves also took the copper tubing connected to the tank.

Pub owner Charley Potts told police that the tank belonged to another person and he was just renting it.

Potts checked with the owner of the tank, but he didn’t have it.

Police stated in their report that it appeared that a large truck, with a boom or large wench, was used to take the tank. Police officer Otto Heath reported that there were no drag marks on the ground and tire treads indicated that it was a dually with good tread.

Police spoke with neighbors in the area, but no one reported hearing or seeing anything.

There was no immediate word on the dollar amount of loss of the tank, the tubing, and the propane inside.

Potts said that there were 350 gallons of propane in the tank at the time and that the overall weight was in the thousands of pounds.

Potts said he secured a temporary tank in Wilbur and after a long day’s work the kitchen was up and operating again.

“I can’t believe it,” Potts stated. He said he didn’t know what the loss would come to, but the loss of the propane would be about $875.