When I put my yard signs out -

[Coexist]

can I spray them with something (please don't suggest dog poop, I don't know if I can do that!) that will make would-be thieves sorry they touched them?

Can I use my mace or does that lose its effectiveness over time?

[maseman]

1. Bring them inside at night if you can

[Coexist]

2. is that when they are stolen? I was concerned about when I'm at work during the day

that would be a simple solution then

[maseman]

5. I would assume most are stolen at night

But I suppose they could be during the day. My road is kind of busy during the day and never had a sign stolen.

[seabeyond]

3. i like a sign with it. IF signs not here in mornng a rpug stole it.

thou shalt not steal

[Curtland1015]

4. Some recommendations I have seen on here...

*Vaseline
*Axel grease
*Habenero pepper oil
*Lye

I wouldn't recommend lye though... I'm pretty sure that could actually kill someone.

[maseman]

7. Lye is a very powerful base

Usually used to clean drains. (I think they used to use it in soap years ago.) It can burn your hands though if you get enough on you.

[immoderate]

11. Soap was made by rendering fat with lye.

A lye "booby trap" could pose some legal problems for the owner.

--IMM

[maseman]

16. Gotcha on the soap

I just remember my grandfather having lye to clean draisn and he reference soap. I also remember him making sure I was FAR away from it when he used it on the farm.

[immoderate]

9. Putting something harmful on it could pose a liability.

I'd stay away from it. My fantasy is to put a spy camera nearby. then you could prosecute for trespassing, theft, and vandalism. :)

--IMM

[snake in the grass]

17. I doubt lye would kill someone if the contamination is through the sign.

They will be in a world of hurt though, maybe even go blind if they rub their eyes (Oh, the thought of that!). However, you should then be prepared for an escalation because these cowards will come back to exact revenge.

Try some poison ivy oil.

[watercolors]

6. Why not put them inside in a window?

Thats what we have done, haven't had a broken window yet. Obama sticker on car and only getting thumbs up signals.

[backscatter712]

8. A second sign:

"SECOND AMENDMENT DEMOCRAT - SIGN THIEVES WILL BE SHOT!"

Other than that, I'd say douse the sign with pepper spray, hope the douche handles the sign, then rubs his eyes...

[maseman]

10. Get some rubber gloves

Find a poison ivy leaf or two and rub the hell out of it. Yes they'll get the sign stolen but they'll itch like hell for about a week.

[immoderate]

13. Good suggestion.

Using lye or other caustic substance could open the owner to legal liabilities. Poison ivy occurs naturally. Would be hard to prove intent.

--IMM

[backscatter712]

15. That's why I suggested pepper spray.

It's double the irritant that poison ivy is, and it's designed to be at least theoretically non-lethal, though the victim that takes it in might wish it wasn't...

[NYC_SKP]

12. There is a very sticky substance available in hardware stores....

That is used to trap rats and rodents. Applying said substance to the back of the signs just around the edges, a two inch band top bottom and sides, would result in the culprits getting stuck to the signs and becoming angry.

It's the only thing that comes to mind as a way to get even, but I'd rather find a way to identify them and have them arrested.

To this end, an earlier post mentioned an inexpensive motion sensor camera, just over $100, at Cosco or Walmart...

[chat_noir]

21. Tanglefoot?

[warrior1]

14. Put them on the inside of your windows

facing the street.

[Abacus]

18. ot That's my favorite lolcat

Makes me :rofl: every time.

[hisownpetard]

19. Cover it with truth. Then you know for sure the Repugs won't touch it!

[donco6]

20. I've had my sign up for months. No one's touched it. n/t

[Barack_America]

22. Liquid Ass.

http://www.liquidass.com/

[yewberry]

23. Please reconsider.

There is always the chance that neighborhood cats, dogs, squirrels, deer, birds, or children might touch your sign.

It's just not worth taking a chance, I think.

[Arugula Latte]

24. How about a thin coat of Vaseline?

It's not toxic, but they'll be sorry they tried to steal it.