Take steps to prevent vandalism, theft of political signs

(Oct. 6, 2020) With the Nov. 3 presidential election fast approaching, local police are seeing increased activity related to theft and vandalism of political signs.  

To help deter theft, Ocean Pines Police are asking residents to display signs or banners in a well-lighted area of their yard. 

"We're starting to get a lot of complaints that 'somebody stole my Trump sign' or 'somebody tore down my Biden sign,' that type of thing," Ocean Pines Police Chief Leo Ehrisman said. "If you're going to put this stuff out, put it in the well-lit area in your yard. Just putting it out in the dark somewhere is not going to stop a pedestrian from kicking it over, tearing it down, or stealing it." 

Ehrisman said police are doing their best to monitor the situation, but they can't be everywhere at once. Things like video footage from a home security system, for example, can be especially helpful to police.  

"If they have video surveillance, we'd be more than glad to take a look," he said. "Even if it's not on your property, if your video camera sees someone tearing down a sign across the street in the neighbor's yard, we'd be very interested in obtaining that information." 

Ehrisman also asked that residents report any activity right away, whether it was seen on their property or in a neighbor's yard. Often, he said, a victim will call police the next morning after a sign was stolen or damaged, and those type of incidents are difficult to follow up on. 

"It's common for people to put these kinds of political support signs out at this time of year, but it's also normal for others who don't like their candidate to damage it, steal it, deface it, all of which is a crime. However, it's a pretty vague crime that we normally don't see until after the fact,” Ehrisman said. “Any preventative actions that residents can take is greatly appreciated, and if you see anything in your area, by all means report it to the police." 

To contact Ocean Pines Police, call 410-641-7747.