Political Signs Disappearing From Elkhart County Yards

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Political Signs Disappearing From Elkhart County Yards

Several political signs in Elkhart County have been stolen or damaged. Police want you to know that if you tamper with those signs, you are committing a crime. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 5, 2007 at 4:28 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 5, 2007 at 5:07 PM EST

(WSBT) Several political signs in Elkhart County have been stolen or damaged. Police want you to know that if you tamper with those signs, you are committing a crime.

In Elkhart it’s relatively quiet when it comes to problems with political yard signs.

Democratic City Chairman Arvis Dawson says he has not received any complaints about tampering.

But there are reports that some signs in one Elkhart city council race are turning up missing.

In Goshen it’s a different story as far as election signs go.

“Every election we have a lot of signs stolen and they are very expensive for the candidates to have to replace those, and they try to always save a certain number for the polling places,” explained Charles Wicks, GOP County Chairman. “But I did get a report in Goshen, on the north side, there were a lot being stolen this year."

Over the past couple of weeks, Goshen Police say they have received reports about stolen or damaged political yard. But say it’s not out of the ordinary, especially at this time of the year.

“The Goshen Police Department, about two weeks ago, did receive a report from a candidate of about eight signs [stolen],” said Officer Joe Brown of the Goshen Police Department. “However I am aware that there have been other signs, on both sides of the aisle, that have been stolen.”

He says the department does not condone such thefts. In fact, to take those signs is a crime.

“As a matter of fact, it is still considered theft. And if it was reported, it would be treated as such,” said Brown. “However, most candidates choose not to report thefts or damaged signs."

In some cases it's believed the signs are stolen for political reasons. But in other cases signs may have been taken by juveniles as a prank.

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