Sign theft sparks controversy over methods and motives

Date: 5/10/2010

May 10, 2010

EDITOR'S NOTE: Since this story was published, Concerned Citizens of Longmeadow spokesman Susan Altman reported to Reminder Publications that the sign thefts for those representing the "No" position have continued. In specific, she said nearly all of the organization's signs were removed from the lawns of supporters between midnight on May 8 and 6:30 a.m. on May 9. "They are bullying people," she said. Altman has reported these new incidents to the Longmeadow Police Department and is planning to prosecute any offenders who are apprehended.



By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor



LONGMEADOW -- The recent rash of political sign thefts this voting season seems, at least to one viewpoint, a bit more pointed and provocative than in seasons past.

Susan Altman, spokesperson for Citizens for Responsible Government, contacted Reminder Publications last Wednesday to report multiple thefts of the group's signs supporting a "no" vote on the proposed high school construction project.

She said their group had a modest budget for lawn sign advertising, and had ordered just under 50 signs. In the two previous days she had received reports that 23 of those signs had been removed from lawns in various parts of town.

In one instance, Altman said, signs were removed from the lawn of an 82-year-old woman by individuals who pulled into her driveway in broad daylight, frightening her.

"We could never imagine taking someone's sign off their lawn," Altman said. "We ordered more signs and we're going to put them out again."

She referred to the actions of the thieves as "brazen" and said the thefts were a violation of the group's First Amendment right to free speech.

"Are these the people we should trust with the responsibility of almost $80 million of our money?" Altman asked.

She added that she had spoken to both Chief of Police Robert F. Siano and Longmeadow High School Principal M. Lawrence Berte about the incidents.

Police Department spokesperson Capt. John Stankiewicz confirmed that the police had received seven reports of sign thefts related to the Concerned Citizens group. He told Reminder Publications the thefts were reported between May 3 and 5 on Sterling, Longmeadow, Inverness and Williams streets and on Morningside and Cooley drives.

He also confirmed the thefts constituted larceny. If the value of the signs taken was proven to exceed $250, he said the charge would be upgraded to a felony.

"The police department is actively looking for assistance from the public if they saw anything [relating to these thefts] and we will prosecute if the individuals are located," Stankiewicz said.

Beth Baron, president of Lancer Pride, a group in favor of the high school project, told Reminder Publications her group has also experienced some incidents with their signage, but none were stolen.

"I got several phone calls from people who are supporters saying they needed more "yes" signs. It seems in several areas [of town] there were signs where the wire supports were removed and the posters were left laying flat," Baron said.

Baron acknowledged that sign thefts are a common occurrence during the Longmeadow political season and that some of the Lancer Pride supporters had indicated they might be calling back for replacement signs in May, anticipating some thefts.

She herself witnessed an incident late one evening last week in which the lawn across the street was covered with an assortment of signs including those for lawn care, political candidates and both "yes" and "no" signs and suspected it to be the work of teenagers.

"I don't want to give teenagers a bad rap," Baron said. "It's just a kind of prankish behavior."

Still, she stressed that everyone's lawn signs represent a significant investment for the group they represent, and should not be tampered with.

"Obviously Lancer Pride does not condone the removal of any candidates' signs on any personal property," she said. "We all need to respect each other's position and opinions and be respectful of that."

She added that if parents are aware of their children engaging in sign stealing, "that's troublesome."

"You've gone on someone's personal property and removed something. Whether you agree or disagree with something, the act is wrong and it's not condoned by Lancer Pride, obviously," Baron said.