Question re: sign stealing

[crispini]

This is the first year I've been really active in politics. And, here on DU and elsewhere, I am hearing many, MANY reports of sign stealing, bumpersticker stealing or defacement, etc. My question is, since I don't have any prior experience being involved in this level, is this common and has it happened a lot in prior elections, or are we seeing a new level of sign stealing & vandalism?

Just wondering.........

[Kierkegaard]

1. I've seen it in a number of previous elections, but

never to this extreme. It may be that I'm just more aware of it this year than in the past, though.

[Zan_of_Texas]

7. Kind of early, and more personal

Before, I've seen lots of it -- Rs and Ds -- on signs put up at the last minute, overnight, before the election -- lots of those are put on medians and other rights-of-way, and they're not strictly legal anyway here. Lots get stolen by the other side.

This time, though, we're having some repeated stealing of Kerry signs out of people's yards, within 24-48 hours of their being put up. And, this is one of the more liberal areas of the city -- it will predictably vote Kerry.

[JPJones]

2. It's very common, if you are in Germany and it is 1932 n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Mine was just stolen last night.

And this is a pretty Dem part of Minneapolis. So I went down to the Kerry campaign HQ, got a much bigger one, and stapled it directly to my porch, right under the motion-activated porch light. The campaign people are keeping track of stolen or vandalized signs. They said it seems to be pretty random, though there was a rash of thefts in one of the suburbs that seemed to be done all at once.

My theory, for what it's worth, is that the officially sanctioned nastiness of the RNC that is so rampant this time has given the local freepers and assholes implicit permission to do things, like trespass and steal or damage personal property, that were once unacceptable.

[Cha]

8. Yes, I like your theory!

I read on here that the bible thumpers were telling * supporters to go out and mow people down to get what you want(don't let anyone stand in your way.)

Not in those words but since I don't know where that thread is I'll have to paraphrase and that's what I took from reading the article.

And those are suppose to be the religious ones..please, give me a break!

[cheshire]

4. The pubs are much more desperate this year.

[Nitrogenica]

6. Sign Stealers

We live in a very Dem neighborhood in Minneapolis also, and have had our sign stolen two Saturdays in a row, during the early afternoon in broad daylight. We signed the theft report at DFL headquarters, and got free replacements, and this time we are using several ideas to draw attention if they are taken again. We will call the police immediately this time, if we catch them.
I hear pepper spray is a pretty good defense if you spray it on the signs, however we are using webcams, better lighting, fishing line and soda cans (lol).
We're gonna fight the fight, never give up, and do our part to help truth win the election!!!

[Cha]

9. Sounds Good! Thanks and Welcome to DU!

:toast: :yourock:

[Kierkegaard]

11. I read on a similar thread earlier in the week where

someone took a habernero pepper and squeezed the juice all over their sign. That should do the trick. I hope the sign stealer's have to take a leak shortly after their little covert operation...

[havocmom]

5. Something to consider: easy to purchase & install a 'hot wire' to keep

deer and other pests out of your yard.

Don't know why one couldn't put a wire on a yard sign too. :evilgrin:

[Cha]

10. What is that "hotwire"?

I know someone who has a big deer problem! Sorry!:)

[havocmom]

14. You put up a little electrical device that pulses a current through it...

set out some wire on insulating posts and turn that puppy on. Nobody dies, but they sure as hell won't be messing with it after the initial touch }(

[Stew225]

12. thanks for the hot wire idea. Our sign got

ripped off last night, as well as all the other K/E signs on our road. I'm committed to either catch the bastards in the act next time or make them sorry another way.

[MadMichDem]

13. I had 2 signs stolen from my yard after 3 days

I got new ones and sprayed them with Canola oil cooking spray. Really gross to touch; signs have been up almost 2 weeks now. The oil has dried now and is really sticky. Still gross to touch!!