Someone entered my yard and damaged my Harris-Walz sign last night

[Chautauquas]

They hit the sign with something, right in the center on top, and bent the wire frame, tearing the cardboard a little. Would have been easier to just steal the damn thing but I guess they wanted me to see the damage. At any rate tomorrow morning I'll drive 5 miles to the Democratic office near me and get a couple more signs for the yard. This time I'll have a camera positioned in the bushes and aimed right at the new signs. Don't know if that will accomplish anything but I would like to get a pic of the jerk.

[OMGWTF]

1. A sign for Dem governor candidate in WA state

that we put on the highway by our house was vandalized. We fixed it but there is a sign for the Rethuglican opponent about ten feet away. If anyone fucks with my sign again, I will destroy the Rethuglican sign. This is war.

[mitch96]

3. Same thing happened to a friend last election cycle. He put up a motion detector with a HUGE spotlight and a

camera...No problems this year so far...
I thought it would be neat to have a recording of a large dog barking to add to the effect...he,he,he..
m

[Attilatheblond]

6. Our Sheriff's dept put out a PSA that it is against AZ law to tamper with campaign signs & they WILL charge people

Last election was a sign stealing marathon around here, but people kept replacing the stolen signs, finally identifying several culprits. City police dept took reports, people were charged AND CONVICTED. County LEOs did likewise.

I salute the patient, boots on the ground, LEOs here. The sheriff is a RW glory hog who is big on drama and pretends to be DEM. Most of the officers are fair and decent despite his all-too-obvious leanings.

[Chautauquas]

13. That is good to hear

I was thinking of calling the local cops just to let them know what happened and to tell them I'n putting up a camera and will be contacting them again of I get a picture of the person.

[SWBTATTReg]

55. This is true in the state of MO too (against tampering and/or stealing the signs).

Probably true in some other states too...

[Smackdown2019]

63. In Missouri

Which they atleast get those signs off the state right-away. The banners on US 67 near Poplar Bluff is right next to the roadway and in front of a Green Information sign MoDot put up. MODOT needs to remove all campaigns signs off the roadway before someone crashes into those steel post they erected to hold their 12 foot trump signs. Signs dont vote! Especially if they on the state right away.

[LeftInTX]

70. Some dufous put up a 8 by 4 on a telephone pole at an intersection! We were horrified.

He was working with us. My friend called him and yelled at him.

[Attilatheblond]

86. One assumes the signs are not allowed to block view of traffic or be positioned in a way that creates a hazard

Pretty sure the AZ laws state signs must not interfere with the ability of drivers to see approaching vehicles or pedestrians.

[LeftInTX]

90. Exactly. Probably the same in every state.

[Attilatheblond]

88. A self proclaimed "ULTRA MAGA" near us, with a back yard facing a busy road, has about a dozen signs up

He put several large sheds in the yard giving him lots of space for his obnoxious signs. But he ran out of room on the walls of the sheds and is now putting signs on the slopes of the roofs facing the road.

He has had a mannequin*, dressed in navy suit, white shirt, red tie, really bad blond wig topped with a red MAGA hat in his yard looking over at the road from the block wall fence . Yeah, the mannequin IS holding a small American flag, and no, the flag is NOT brought in at night, nor is it lighted as is proper for flags at night, a pet peeve of mine.

*by the way, a mannequin that depicts a male human form is properly known as a 'dummy'. In my opinion, after seeing this neighbor's displays for years, I think the term applies to him rather than the life sized sick fuck dolly peeping at us all over the wall.

edited for typo

[SWBTATTReg]

89. Yeah, really. I'm surprised that the Highway dept. or the police haven't removed the sign, could be confusing to

drivers and such. It's been a while since I've been through Poplar Bluff. I used to have a friend that had a place down there, but he passed away a couple of years ago, sad. His sister is still in contact w/ me though.

12-foot tRUMP signs? Do they have penis issues?

Man, if those signs were anywhere in the city of STLMO, they wouldn't be around much longer, as tRUMP is literally hated in the city, and is viewed as a nut. There are a few tRUMP fanatics, but they are mostly quiet, keep to themselves, as they are far outnumbered in the city, thank the powers that be.

You know how the city vs. rural areas in MO are, you can see that invisible line separating Kamala land vs. tRUMP land. At least, in MO, the majority of tRUMP supporters are slowly aging off, and dying. The cities (KCMO, STLMO, maybe Springfield MO), are vastly pro-Kamala, and tRUMP has even managed to drive away a lot of his former supporters, so I think that there is perhaps a remote chance that MO might go for Kamala vs. tRUMP, being that he's fruiter than a fruit cake.

[DENVERPOPS]

77. I would be interested to know

what exactly were the perps charged with, convicted of, and the penalty assessed?

[Attilatheblond]

85. Likely, the State Statute against tampering with election signs

Not being a lawyer, or giving a damn about specific numeric law designations, I haven't got the slightest clue, nor do I care. The state law is specific enough to be enforced and our local LEOs and prosecutors did just that.

[frogstar0]

25. Just need a second sigh that reads "Smile you're on Camera" or similar.

Sign stealers are cowards, the idea of getting caught usually keeps them from acting.
I got a pack four from Amazon for like $ 10-12.

[Clouds Passing]

4. Our state representative signs continue to be pulled up and we continue to put them back up

Rs are so freakin petty.

[thomski64]

10. I secure my signs to the porch

railing with wire ties..

[Chautauquas]

14. Another good idea!

I might just try that, especially if it happens a second time.

[soldierant]

61. OK, I know this is evil, so don't listen to me, but

I'd be tempted to use electric fencing.

[MFM008]

84. I put the sign

In the front window facing the main road. No problems.

[Kid Berwyn]

5. Good luck!

Someone is gonna be sore surprised.

[crud]

7. Get a motion activated sprinkler

and a camera. Hilarity will ensue.

[Chautauquas]

9. That is a great idea!

It's kind of weird that they targeted me because there's several houses nearby with Harris signs that didn't get vandalized. At least not yet.

[crud]

21. They sell them to keep animals from going dodo in the yard

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ZzLCs+u7L._AC_SL1500_.jpg

[birdographer]

22. Camera AND motion activated sprinkler

Might as well add a comedy element to the evidence you give the police! I also like the spotlight plan. Might as well be a well-lit video.

[Ohioboy]

8. In 2020 I had a sign run over

There's no place for me to hide a camera. Let us know if you get a picture of the jerk.

[frogstar0]

27. Again, just a sign will do, cameras are so small you never know where they are.

[Easterncedar]

11. Editing out per good advice below

.

[Wednesdays]

39. Do NOT booby-trap anything! I repeat: do NOT booby-trap anything!

Pepper spray, electric wires, explosives, attack animals...you're just begging for a lawsuit.

Ever think what might happen if kids, mail carriers or first responders get near your sign?

[Iggo]

49. Not just a lawsuit. We're talking prison time. That's a big boy crime.

[Easterncedar]

51. Can't we just stink them up though?

Like the parks do to discourage thieves from stealing fir trees at Christmas? They use urine concentrate. I think.

[AZ8theist]

58. You know what else is a "big boy" crime?

Carrying a weapon while trespassing on someones property to commit vandalism/robbery.

NO QUESTION the assholes in AZ are packing during their midnight "runs".

[Iggo]

59. Yeah, but setting a trap to harm humans...

….is a feh-low-knee, no matter how mad you are or what’s in the other guy’s pocket.

Granted, it’s a sliding scale…from something to give someone a little sting, all the way up to planting a bomb. It’s just a matter of degree.

If you set the trap, you have committed the crime.

[AZ8theist]

60. And what, armed intruders on your property are???

Just a traffic ticket?

How many states have "Stand your ground" laws? People have been shot for FAR LESS....

[Iggo]

62. But you didn't know that when you set the trap.

Could be armed intruders.
Could be the cops or the mailman.
Could be some kid trying to get a ball back that bounced into your yard.
Could be someone knocking down a political sign.
Could be anybody!

You just don’t know, and your booby trap doesn’t know either.

That’s why they can and should lock you up with murderers for that shit. And that’s just for setting the trap.

You kill someone? You’re through with money, dude.

[AZ8theist]

64. "You kill someone? You're through with money, dude....."

Tell that to Kyle Rittenhouse and George Zimmerman.

[MadameButterfly]

67. you won't get that lucky

Only Republicans get off. and it won't go well for Kyle in the long run

[LeftInTX]

72. Homeless people steal large signs.

We use metal posts and wire to hold those babies together and put them in places where there aren't homeless camps. Like near prickly bushes, cliffs, etc.

[Easterncedar]

50. You are right. I will delete.

[Hope22]

12. Mine lasted 24 hours.

Working on solutions here too. The thing that really frosts me is that you will see 10 T signs on this road. Some are along public right of way and they remain safe from a thief’s hand.

[birdographer]

24. Because the people who want to tear them down (us)

are too decent and non-weird to actually do such a thing. I'm not going to mess with someone's sign that might as well say "I am an idiot." I would want to leave it up to identify that person as a racist supporting a rapist.

[Hope22]

38. Yes..that is one way to look at it!

I met a woman and we got talking about a person who feels the need to fly a T flag at the boat club. I really resent when they bring politics into the space as I try to leave that at home. This woman told me she didn’t mind the flag as she has a transgender child and the flag tells this mom that those people do not want to be her friend. I didn’t tell her it means a hell of a lot more than that! I find the signs and flags synonymous with hate and attack on personal freedoms. My heart goes out to this mom who can sooth herself with those words. The fact that the monsters feel free to touch signs on other people’s property let alone, steal, light on fire or shoot at them really is beyond words.

[LilElf70]

15. It's just a

yard sign!!!! Yet these hateful asswipes are insistent to destroy them. Childish, hateful, ignorant asswipes. They absolutely hate to face the good guys and the truth. Trump sure has created an awful amount of hate in the country. He's really trying to destroy this country.

November, it all goes away.....Hopefully.

[duhneece]

16. Vaseline and glitter applied so that the thief gets it on his/her hand

You apply with gloves on.

[Tree Lady]

20. This seems like a great idea

few women at my bookclub yesterday said someone took their signs. I will mention it.

[birdographer]

26. I LOVE the glitter idea

That stuff is impossible to get off. Also perhaps some objectionable substance in the grass that they will step in while stealing it...

[Wednesdays]

40. NOT a good idea.

See my reply #39.

[duhneece]

43. I don't see any danger in Vaseline and glitter

Maybe I’m missing something

[Wednesdays]

65. Yes, you're missing the possibility of innocent kids or pets being affected. nt

[duhneece]

76. Ah, I live out in the country with no kids within a mile or more

Dogs and cats don’t run loose out here (too many coyotes+) and the sign is inside my fence.

[tavernier]

17. Must be immigrants.

I understand they are here to commit criminal acts. Gosh, those magas had it right all along.

[Iggo]

48. They're eating the signs!!!

[yaesu]

18. When I had property on the main highway my Democratic signs were taken all the time. nt

[Warpy]

19. Punks with shitty parents

and note that some of them are in their 50s and never grew up.

New signs or not, I'd be tempted to leave the old one where it is. I think the message will be clear: REPUBLICANS ARE PETTY< NASTY< SPITEFUL SCUM.

[MiHale]

23. Exactly the correct way to change minds...

MAGA thoughts…(ouch that hurt)

“I ruin your sign…now you’ll vote for my guy…right?”

Of course this is a sarcastic post.

[GreenWave]

28. I think their brats are doing this in case they get caught, lenient judge.

[Attilatheblond]

36. guys convicted for it here last election were in thei 70s

They have time all day to rip down signs along roads. Most of the magas here are older, pissed off males. They tend to buy cartloads of booze at COSTCO.

Thinking it's ingrained racism and a lot of unaddressed depression or mental health issues. Throw in the vague awareness that their time and power on this planet are coming to an end, the fear of irrelevance is probably making personality disorders worse. Not unlike what we see with TSF, Lindsey Graham, and the ever annoying Newt.

[Miami Blue]

29. Go get em

And the subsequent step is to call the cops to show them your pics/ evidence.

[Beringia]

30. Vandals Beware

[usonian]

31. This sign is coated with nerve toxins. (not) Now that you touched it call the prayer line.

888-388-2683.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1
But he can't reverse the toxins. Wishing you pleasant last rites.

[LatteLady]

32. Camera capture the license plate too!

It’s a crime to do that and you can report it.

[Wednesdays]

41. Wow. Blame the victim much?

[DoBW]

34. user friendly but wi-fi dependent...

cameras
https://www.arlo.com/en-us/

[MagickMuffin]

35. It is against the law to interfere with your free speech

The preps can be charged with several crimes for tampering with political signs.

The camera would help identify the preps and bring charges. The link below tells more about it.

https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/law-and-life/is-it-illegal-to-steal-or-vandalize-political-signs/

[redstatebluegirl]

37. A friend of mine kept getting hers stolen.

She mixed Vaseline with red food coloring and covered the metal stakes with it, then covered that with tiny plastic bags of glitter.

The next day the sign was laying flat in her yard with glitter everywhere.

Somebody got a surprise! I hope it was all over the inside of their truck too!

[Wednesdays]

42. Again, bad idea.

See my reply #39.

[Maru Kitteh]

44. If I put one up again I'm going to put cat shit on the ground all the way around it. nt

[Dem4life1234]

46. MAGAts being the thugs they are

They really are trash ass people.

[Iggo]

47. And you didn't shoot and kill them. Because it's just a yard sign.

See how that works, Gunfuckers?

[Prairie Gates]

52. You have an outdoor capable camera ready for deployment? That you'll run nonstop?

Amazing.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

53. They would probably get in more trouble for trespassing. In some areas removing a sign is against the law.

You have to look up what the laws are in your state or city/county about taking or damaging a sign. Apparently, some people who stole signs have had videos of them doing it posted on the internet, embarrassing them.

[bdamomma]

54. They destroyed your sign

but it won't stop you from voting!!!!!! Pure bullies that's all, and we all know what happens to bullies.

[AZ8theist]

57. A good alternative....

Place a large, hand-written sign next to your yard sign:

"IF YOU STEAL OR DAMAGE THIS SIGN, I WILL ONLY BUY ANOTHER THEREBY GIVING MORE MONEY TO xxxx"

(insert your candidate of choice in the xxx field)

[Jack Valentino]

66. Rat-traps might be nice if deployed near the signs....

They won't kill a human being, but might be a small deterrent to any who would accidentally step on them---

and it would be entirely legal to deploy them on your own property, to defend it against rodents.



(I have been contemplating deploying a large number of mousetraps in my garden next year---
to discourage ground-hogs who have destroyed it for 2 years running now--
won't kill them but if they step on any of them, it won't encourage them to continue
working that area)

[soandso]

68. Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You'll hurt someone. A possum, a cat, any critter. If you want to keep mice away, there's stuff you can buy that you sprinkle around which drives them away.

[Jack Valentino]

69. My idea was to deter the sign-stealing MAGATS!-

[soandso]

74. lol, I know

but we don't want the critters to be collateral damage!

[Wednesdays]

83. "They won't kill a human being"

Oh, then it's perfectly okay.


See posts #49 and #59. It's a felony, whether someone is killed or not.

[LeftInTX]

71. Around here homeless people steal the big signs. I don't think homeless get into people's yards.

But I had put up a sign and I could tell someone was messing with it. I kept fixing it. One day, it was gone. So, I checked the ditch. I kept walking until I came to a homeless camp. If was full of signs! They use them for shelter. The homeless guys must have recognized me or something because later that evening, I found the sign in the road!!! They knew I was looking for my sign!!

These are 4 by 8 ft signs in public places, near polling sites etc.

Then one day, this guy was working at my house and wanted one of those large signs. He said his grandson or nephew needed one for his fort. It turns out: The guy was homeless. He wanted one for his fort!

[diane in sf]

73. Someone stole mine, but in this town it's probably because they wanted to display it and were too dumb

or felonious to get their own. I’ve ordered two more yard signs and I’m planning to put stuff in my windows too, signs and black cats. They’d have to exert themselves to steal that stuff, so it’s probably safe.

[Joinfortmill]

75. Maybe local paper will publish. Maybe Facebook?

Good luck!

[azureblue]

78. and

coat the wire frame with roofing tar. When I has sign "issues", I built a frame from black PVC pipe and coated that. Near invisible, especially at night. A few days later, I saw a pick up truck with tar on the door handle..

[Martin68]

79. I hope you catch the culprit. Trespassing and vandalism.

[Emile]

80. Prosecute the SOB if you catch him.

[Center Left]

81. This happened to one of my neighbors

To both of their Harris/Walz signs here in Pittsburgh. True right wing losers around here.

[Duncanpup]

82. Jerks

[Torchlight]

87. I do like the glitter and Vaseline route mentioned

Was curious and did some digging. There is nothing inherently illegal nor dangerous in doing this to your own property on your own property (there may be local ordinances, but I haven't dug deep enough to look at HOA rules, etc.)

We have a motion-sensor video camera in the back lot for wildlife. A 75 dollar investment about two years ago, and the thing runs like a dream (we've got about five hours total of deer and coyote footage from it so far).