Sign Stealer has biggest weekend yet
During the moonlight hours of Saturday night a total of 25 street signs were stolen from county roads marking the biggest theft that the Adams County Highway Department had experienced yet in the latest string of sign thefts. This brings the total amount of songs that have been ripped off their posts to a total of 72 and brings the estimated amount of property stolen near $6,000.
“We have reached the point where we suspected this has progressed past just collecting and vandalism. This might be for money or part of a game,” stated Highway Superintendent Brad Yoder. “It does not really make any sense at this point.”
Sheriff Dan Mawhorr asked Yoder if he thought that there might be a possibility of the perpetrators stealing the signs for the value of their aluminum metal. Yoder explained that the efforts of melting down the signs enough to salvage this aspect of their composition would take an intensive effort in building a strong and hot fire, making it unlikely.
Yoder noted that due to the amount of time that the signs were stolen, it is likely that they are dealing with more than one person, however this is an estimate. He also acknowledged that whoever is doing is very professional about it; all the posts are wiped down, footprints are removed from the area, and the signs are taken off the posts in a very clean and efficient manner. The crime continues to take place in the same twelve-mile radius near Salem Road. This weekend street signs, church signs, and additional arrows were taken along with the usual Chevrons.
“You can tell that they are getting braver because some of the signs that were stolen were located near houses. Normally they keep their distance,” Yoder added. The Highway Department and Sheriff’s office continue to partner on the matter and acknowledged that if the theft continues, the amount of spending to make the repairs could require the County to make appropriations to their budget.
It was shared that new methods of investigation will start to be utilized going forward. If you have any information about the stolen signs that could contribute to the ongoing investigation, contact the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at 260724-5345 or the Highway Department at (260) 6926222.