The town of Woodside would like its national and state flags back. The stars and stripes and the bear flag were discovered missing from the white pole in front of Independence Hall on Feb. 26, deputies from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said in a report.

"This rarely occurs. Sometimes it's done as a prank," Deputy Town Manager Paul Nagengast said. "If anybody has them and feels bad about it and wants to return them, we won't ask any questions."

The flags are always flying, with the ropes tied off on a cleat high on the pole and out of reach to anyone without a ladder or a truck bed -- or the ability to shinny up a pole, Mr. Nagengast said. The ropes were found untied and dangling.

The flags tatter over time and are replaced according to a protocol, Mr. Nagengast said. The two that were stolen had been replaced recently at a cost of about $86.

— Dave Boyce

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