True story:
When my stepfather was about 25, he was living with a couple of roommates, and they needed some carpet for their apartment, which only had a concrete floor.
They went to Sears, moved several racks of clothing out of the way, pulled up the store’s carpet, rolled it up, and walked out the front door.
No one said a word. They just assumed these people were supposed to be there, taking away the carpet.
I grant to you that the Washington Monument is a bit different than the carpeting at Sears, but my point stands: never underestimate the disinterest and apathy of the general public.