Ahead of Election Day, DeKalb County police remind residents campaign sign stealing is a crime

SYCAMORE – DeKalb County law enforcement officials are reminding residents ahead of the Nov. 3 general election that stealing or defacing campaign signs is a crime.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said there have been two calls within the last three weeks about political signs being destroyed, stolen or both – both of those calls coming in Sept. 26, with one near Sandwich and another near Sycamore.

Scott said there was enough evidence to track down the alleged Sandwich-area offender, but no charges were pressed because the victims just wanted police to talk to the subject. He said there wasn’t enough evidence, like suspect vehicle information, to find the alleged offender in the Sycamore area.

“But it hasn’t been a frequent one [calls-wise] for us,” Scott said.

DeKalb acting police chief Bob Redel said DeKalb police aren’t aware of any reports of signs being stolen or damaged.

“If there was a complaint, we would investigate,” Redel said.

Scott said he urges people to make sure campaign signs are out of the right of way, since public works officials may have to move them if they’re in their way. He said those who set up those signs don’t want it to be causing a hazard for drivers visibility-wise, either.

Otherwise, Scott said, anyone who tears up, destroys or steals political signs on private property could face theft charges.

“Signs should be left alone if they are on the property properly and out of the right of way,” Scott said.

According to Illinois law, petty theft is generally considered a Class A misdemeanor, which holds a maximum punishment of up to a year in jail.

Sycamore Police Cmdr. Steve Cook said the city police department has taken nine reports of political signs being stolen or damaged from August through this month. However, he said, he wouldn’t describe that as being completely out of the ordinary, given the circumstances.

“We get this every campaign year,” Cook said.

Cook echoed stealing or damaging a campaign sign could be considered petty theft misdemeanor, based on the value of the property that was damaged or stolen. He said police officials ultimately want others to respect peoples’ opinions and leave personal property alone.

“It’s a criminal offense and we will investigate it as such,” Cook said.

Sandwich police officials were not immediately available for comment on Monday afternoon.