ROCKINGHAM — More reports of signs being defaced or stolen are coming out, this time from the Richmond County Democratic Party.
On Monday, a 4 feet by 8 feet sign supporting Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris was attached to poles in a voter’s yard on U.S. 1 near the entrance to the Little Philadelphia Community, according to party Chairwoman Crystal Morrison.
The following morning, the sign had been cut from the poles and into pieces she said.
Morrison added that signs have been run over in Hoffman and that she has had to replace more than 200 signs that have been stolen from people’s yards.
“We’ve never had a problem with this before,” she said.
Earlier in the week, local Republican Party Chairman Jerry Austin said “dozens” of Trump/Pence signs had been stolen along U.S. 1 and in the Roberdel area.
Austin also said that at least five signs have even been taken within the past month from the Republican Party’s headquarters on Rockingham Road.
According to state statute, it is a Class 3 misdemeanor to “steal, deface, vandalize, or unlawfully remove a political sign that is lawfully placed.”
“It’s very unfortunate it’s happening on both sides,” Morrison said.
She added that she encourages voters to place the signs closer to their homes and to install surveillance equipment if possible.
Stolen or damaged signs should be reported to local law enforcement.
