Had a Little Theft Last Night...

[AngryOldDem]

...Someone came around the neighborhood and ripped off all the K/E signs. Left other political signs untouched.

Guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it still pisses the living hell out of me. We have one more plastic sign, plus two treated cardboard ones.

So...what is a good theft deterrent that doesn't cost anything? Crisco? Dog shit? Cayenne pepper? Tacks or nails? We did write our name and address on the inside of the missing one, so if it is found, some case for theft can be made.

Open to suggestions...


ON EDIT: Husband (Gemdem, rarely posts but a DUer) just took out a replacement sign. While he was putting it up, two neighborhood freepers came walking up the street -- two security moms coming back from walking their darlings to school -- and he told them, "Apparently some Republicans in the area can't stand the democratic process and took our sign." They looked SHOCKED, I tell you, totally SHOCKED, and denied all knowledge.

[Spinzonner]

1. Ricin

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Go to a nursery...

And buy some of that Evergreen Anti-Theft spray that is made with Fox Musk. The Highway departments use it on evergreens they plant to keep them from being stolen. Stinks like the dickens.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. See if you can buy a tube of blue ink at an art or drafting supply store

Smear the stake you have the sign mounted on with a good thick coat of the ink. In the dark they won't see it. It should cover their hands and everything they touch. Hopefully, before they notice, it will F-up their clothes and their car. If it's one of your neighbors you might see them trying to clean it up the next day.

[Quadrajet]

5. Ink, that's an excellent idea!

I also heard that the best thing you can do is write your name and address on the sign. That way if someone is found with a bunch of signs, that one is clearly yours and they're busted for stealing. Otherwise they could just say "these are all ours".

[AngryOldDem]

6. I second that!

The art supply store just got pushed to the top of my errands list.

And, yes, as I said, we did put our name and address on the sign that was pilfered, as well as the one we just put out. I also called the sheriff and he came out and took a report.

Someone came through the plat last night and did a clean sweep, apparently -- no K/E signs to be found. All told, about a half-dozen gone. But B/C signs are untouched.

:mad: :nuke:

[liberalmuse]

4. Whoever is printing those signs...

Is making a mint. Most likely it's teenagers with 'pub parents and nothing better to do. I'd set up a camera somewhere and tape the nightly sign stealings and put it on the internet, just for fun.

Better yet, set up a webcam and charge people a couple bucks to see if they can catch the theft. Like I said, these are probably kids, so I wouldn't do anything really cruel.

[AngryOldDem]

7. That's what the sheriff said...bored teenagers

and in my neck of the woods (Centerville, Wash. Twp.) boredom tends to rule the day.

[Toucano]

11. It's not bored teens in my area.

Teens don't give a shit.

It's bored "missionaries". We're setting up surveillance.

If it's who we suspect, he's gonna be in some real hot water. If I had any money left, I'd hire a private dick to follow the SOB.

(I've been waiting years to use the expression "private dick"! LOL!)

[AngryOldDem]

12. No, I know it's not bored teens here, either...

...but anything to get Deputy Dawg to take my complaint seriously.

The good news is, all of the signs on my street have been replaced. But those that were farther back in the plat have not -- all that is left are the empty wickets. Sad sight.

My daughter, and 8th-grader, said a kid on the bus today mentioned that she -- yes, she -- wanted to go out last night and "trash some Kerry signs," but Mom and Dad said no. I told my kid to tell her that such an idea is NOT good, and could buy a peck of trouble that nobody wants.

Tonight will be interesting, but we have stapled the sign shut this time around.

[Toucano]

13. I understand now.

I didn't read carefully at first. Sorry.

Thanks for clearing me up.

I'll be on the look out for how the stapling works.

[AngryOldDem]

14. Stapling didn't work

Woke up this morning, the sign was gone. Filed another report with the same deputy. I asked if sign theft has been more than usual this election cycle, and he said no. His opinion. Even a sign that got through Sunday night-Monday morning was gone, and I'm assuming that those replacement signs that were put out yesterday are gone today, too. Haven't been out in the neighborhood yet to see.

AND...I got this piece of happy information from the deputy. He said a third watch crew told him that they took a report of a sign being SET ON FIRE in a yard. I don't know when it happened, but I'm assuming that it had to have been someplace in Washington Twp.

I don't think I need to tell you how serious and frightening THAT is. I am calling the Kerry HQ today to let them know about this, as well as the thefts in this part of the township.

21 days to go...

ON EDIT: Unlike some parts of Ohio, Dayton has not had appreciable rain for over a month. We are bone dry here. Need I say more about how stupid and dangerous it is to set something on fire in the middle of the night?

[Kolesar]

15. terrorists! eom

[MostlyLurks]

17. My boss' signs have been set on fire twice.

He lives in Licking county. One was a victim of "spontaneous liberal combustion" (as we've jokingly come to call it)and its replacement this past weekend.

[TBreeze]

8. That ink sounds like a good idea

I saw a glimpse of another sign theft story on the news this morning. Too bad it's not going to work, I saw 4 new signs up just today while I was taking my son to school.

[AngryOldDem]

10. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[TBreeze]

18. Thanks for the Welcome

I saw something odd today, a Bush/Cheney yard sign right next to a Kerry/Edwards sign in the same yard. Hmmm. People in the same house voting differently perhaps? Can you imagine those dinner table discussions?

[cmd]

19. I sure can

We just don't talk during dinner at our house.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi TBreeze!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MountainMamma]

9. Hey there Angry,

I am a former Ohioan and am now in NC and we are having the same problem down here. We have waited for a long time for our yard sign supply to come in and we put them out and they are gone the next day. Funny, the other side's signs have been there forever! Maybe since the night time seems to be the time the majority of our signs disappear, we should take them in each night and put them back out in the morning (light). I know it's a pain but we knew we were going to have to put real effort into this election to get the "good guys" into office. :grr: