NORTH PORT, Fla. — Police in North Port have a mysterious case of possible theft and vandalism. They're investigating who has been stealing election campaign posters of at least two city commission candidates.
One candidate who reported that his campaign signs were stolen said he has had to cough up plenty of cash to replace the lost posters.
"Trying to take them down is almost like being a bully and you have to stand up to bullies," city commission candidate Andrew Sias said.
Sias said that his campaign signs and posters began disappearing from various locations all around North Port around Sept 6.
"I've lost them in Welland Park. I've lost them on Salford, I have lost them on Chamberlain. One was right on the corner of Price and Sumter by the 7-Eleven, which was right in broad daylight," Sias explained.
According to police records, around a dozen such signs have been stolen. City commissioner Barbara Langdon has also had some of her signs stolen.
"Between 9 to 10. A sign runs about $30 to post 18 so if you go 20, 30, that's $70. So $70 times nine you can see that $450. It could be used for other things. I do not suspect my opponent of doing this. I assume it's somebody who's misguided doing it," he said.
Police say missing or stolen campaign signs are not uncommon during election season and they discourage people against such acts.
"It's not often that the larger signs are taken, but certainly the smaller ones whether it be somebody just doesn't want to see him or opposes that particular candidate or whatever so certainly one is too many," Josh Taylor, a spokesperson for the North Port Police Department, said.
According to Taylor, if arrested, whether juveniles or adults, those responsible for stealing the campaign signs could face serious consequences.
"It could be theft, it could be property damage. These are mostly criminal mischief-type crimes. They come with a misdemeanor charge probably a fine or court fees that sort of thing in the charges would be more severe if it's an adult obviously," Taylor said.
As for Sias, he said despite the setbacks the theft of his signs has caused him, he is not giving up staying visible ahead of election day and has a message for the folks pilfering the campaign signs.
"Whoever is doing this, I just ask them to stop. Whether it's mine or anybody else's, it's still wrong. Our election should be determined at the ballot box not by tearing down signs," he said.
North Port police say if you know anything about who is removing the campaign posters, you are encouraged to contact them.