ELY - The Police Department here received numerous reports of stolen political signs early this week. It appears just one political party was targeted – signs supporting Democratic candidates.
Local resident Emily Brown contacted the Timberjay on Tuesday about her concerns. “I think this is a story that should be told,” she wrote in an email. “It’s a crime to steal political signs.” She indicated that materials from one political party were targeted. “Have any Trump signs been stolen?” she asked. “What are the police doing?”
Ely Police Chief Chad Houde said his department received as many as four reports by Wednesday morning of signs taken from neighborhood yards on both Monday and Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, this seems to happen every couple of years during election season,” Houde said. “We patrol as much as possible but it is difficult to catch thieves in the act. I have been telling people to take their signs in overnight if they can. They shouldn’t have to, but that is the day and age that we live in.”
Ely resident Valerie Nesteruck said a political sign was removed from her yard at White Street and Third Avenue sometime Monday night. “And three were taken near Third and Conan Street,” she wrote in an email. She said her neighbor reportedly saw the sign in her yard at 10:30 p.m. on Monday. “It was gone by 5:30 a.m. (Tuesday),” she said.
Brown also noted that she heard from others that political signs in support of Joe Biden were removed late Monday from a residence near James Street and Central Avenue. “Corie McKibben reported that a truck entered their remote access road and stole Biden signs,” she said.
Nancy Powers added to an email, “My big Biden Harris sign was stolen from 2nd and White Street last night.” She also reported that another city resident reported a similar incident.
Chief Houde confirmed that the reports his office received were for Biden/Harris sign thefts.
He added that the misdemeanor theft charge does carry a fine as punishment. “If one individual is guilty of multiple infractions, the punishment could be more serious,” he said.
“We take this very seriously in our community. It does not look good for either side of the political spectrum. If you see someone stealing personal property, call 911. There are many more surveillance cameras out there now that could help to identify perpetrators.”