Antique barber pole stolen from outside barbershop in Washington state

PUYALLUP, Wash., May 13 (UPI) -- Washington state barber is pleading for the return of the antique striped barber pole stolen from outside his shop last week.

Ray Colburn, owner of the Mirror Barber Shop in Puyallup, said the thief removed the pole from the wall where it had already been affixed when he bought the shop nearly 40 years ago, KOMO-TV, Seattle, reported Monday.

"I guess it's just a part of me," Colburn said. "I see it all the time. I never really thought of it that way. I'd like to have it back, just for a keepsake or whatever."

Colburn said he suspects the thief took the pole to sell it, as similar items can fetch thousands of dollars on eBay.