Yard Sign trouble

[dmkinsey]

I'm wondering if any other areas are having the problem of systematic stealing of Kerry yard signs.

Here in west Michigan we lose hundreds every night. Entire neighborhoods have been stripped.

We encourage people to make police reports and the police are generally listening politely but really, they probably won't do anything unless the theft happens right in front of their eyes.

dmkinsey

[SheilaT]

1. If it's really that blatant,

it shouldn't be difficult to set up a camera and find the thieves.

[ClassWarrior]

2. The best thing you and other JK supporters in your area can do...

...is write lots of letters to the editor and contact news directors at your local TV stations. Suggest that these Bush* supporters must believe that the only way they can win this election is by lying, cheating, and stealing. After all, it was the only way they won in 2000. Shine daylight all over this nonsense, and get maximum positive exposure from it for the Kerry campaign. You got lemons. Make lemonade.

Provide documentation if you can - addresses, dates, etc.

23.

[tedoll78]

4. Yup.

That's the best thing I've heard on this issue. If we can use this to smear the other side (righteously so), then use it!

[LiberalEsto]

3. Not yet in Central Maryland

though I can't speak for every neighnorhood.

Encourage people to put them in their windows.

You can also try encircling signs with a trip-line, some kind of twine with some jingly stuff attached. Raise it about ankle height, maybe with plant stakes. At least you'll have the satisfaction of scaring them!
Don't use wire and don't stretch it so tight that someone gets hurt. After all, we are Democrats, not rethug animals.

[dmkinsey]

6. some people are using

motor oil on the wires.
I'm thinking I might go out tonight and cruise, maybe play junior g-man.

[izzie]

5. I saw a Bush one on the top of a garage.

When I went shopping yesterday their were no signs up and when I came home some one had put up Bush signs every place, It has been so low key here I guess it is time it started.

[eleny]

7. We have a motion sensor light on the front of our house

When a car goes past or if someone walks up to the house, it goes on automatically. So, I moved our sign back a little closer to the house and it's in front of the light. I'm hoping this would surprise anyone trying to grab the sign.

Another option is to take the signs in at night. I plan on putting some signs in my windows, too.

[funky_bug]

8. During Clinton's first campaign...

My husband had a sign-stealing issue. After the third one was stolen, three nights in a row, he planted the fourth. Then he carefully placed roofing nails upside down all around the sign. Not that I'm advocating violence, I'm just saying....

[Warpy]

14. My suggestion was even nastier

and involved a little smear of poison ivy where the sign would most likely be grabbed to uproot it quickly.

It wouldn't stop the theft, but the aftereffects would be lovely to contemplate.

Crushed habanero pepper would be a more instantly painful and less physically damaging thing, but only if the thief touched his face after he'd touched your sign.

Sign thieves don't seem to be a big problem in this hood, but we're known as the War Zone for a good reason.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. Upwards of 1000 Kerry signs in Ft. Worth, TX have been stolen.

They are putting out 2000 more. You can't stop us right wing FREAKS.

[ClassWarrior]

10. Get this on the news, Moon!!

Write a letter to the editor TONIGHT!! Nail these jerks!

23.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

15. We have, believe me

they don't care.

[Blue Gardener]

11. I bring mine in at night

At least when I remember. I know I shouldn't have to, but I don't want it to disappear. Most of the little nazi brownshirts don't have the guts to steal them in daylight.

[NV Whino]

12. I posted this suggestion a few days ago.

Check it out. The price varies, but it's around $89. Could be a community effort here with one every other house or so.
http://www.scatmat.com/Products/Scarecrow/

Works really well on raccoons and I thought it might be a good answer for sign stealers.

[Fed Up]

13. surround your sign with moist dog turds, so they step in it.

They won't see it at night. That will learn them.

[Habibi]

16. Might this be an opportunity to

form neighborhood watch patrols? Volunteers who patrol at all hours in pairs or groups to keep an eye on the neighborhood? Would discourage the vandals, and indeed pretty much any troublemakers. Good way to get to know your neighbors, too.

[AlCzervik]

17. It's happening everywhere, my neighbors

are putting their yardsign in the front wondows of their houses and my across the street neighbor is a cop who has put up cameras to keep an eye out for sign stealers. I'm in Northern california, my sister lives in mass an she had 2 sign stolen, one was returned with some shall we say...salty language on them.

[RevCheesehead]

18. Put up your own: "My Kerry Sign Was Stolen"

I liked the dog turds, motor oil, or pepper sauce ideas.

Please reconsider anything which may harm stray animals - it would be awful if someone's pet got hurt or killed.

On a positive note,
they wouldn't be stealing the signs if they weren't afraid.

[Guaranteed]

26. GREAT idea. nt

[leftchick]

27. I have one right down the street from me!

It says "My Sign Was Stolen! Please vote Kerry"!

:)

[Demi_Babe]

19. no problems in my neighborhood so far

[DeepModem Mom]

20. This seems a small thing, but it's emblematic of the our extremist...

opposition -- they don't play by the rules and norms of traditional American politics. And they have no reluctance to interfere with the electoral process, which, I think, includes campaign paraphernalia such as yard signs.

[Night Gal]

21. I lose one a week on average, but...

in speaking to the local cops it seems that both sides' signs are being removed.

On my way back from Fresno last night I was getting fuel and saw a Bush Cheney bumper sticker that had a screw symbol placed over it!
Priceless

[AngryOldDem]

22. Saw a Bush sign today

with a K/E bumper sticker plastered on it.

[XanaDUer]

23. We saw a ripped up * sign...

In NE FL, there has been a rash of stolen/vandalized K/E signs, so our local Dem club has been putting Vaseline on the signs so the perps get slimed if they grab it.

But I guess turnaround is fair play, cause today we saw a ripped up * sign!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

24. Right. eom

[Insomnicole]

25. Wanna hear something *really* sick?

I read an online advice column, and they got a letter in August from a person who put a political sign in her yard. Some looney asshole wingnut in her neighborhood started *shitting* on it! This person wrote back later on and confirmed that the sign was a Kerry/Edwards sign. They confronted the shitter with videotape they made of him and he apologized profusely (said he thought it was someone else's yard and he was just playing a prank -- uh huh).

Man. People. Gotta love 'em!