KEEWATIN — A local police chief faced with teens stealing political signs took an interesting approach to dealing with their mischief.
In most instances, with little evidence to work with, political sign thieves go unpunished. But Keewatin Police Chief Chris Whitney said in this case they got lucky: The property owner had a Ring camera.
The camera caught some older teenagers stealing the signs for Democratic candidates out of the property owners’ yard. Whitney was able to identify the teens, who owned up to their thievery.
The property owner just wanted the kids to get a “good ol’ fashioned talking to,” Whitney said, so the chief called the teens and their parents into the station.
“Told ‘em, you know, when you’re old enough to vote you can express who you like and don’t like by voting. Until then, right now you’re going onto people’s property and you’re stealing their property,” Whitney recounted.
“... So I could write you a theft ticket, drag you to juvenile court and pay your fines and pay restitution. Or you could work it off.”
Whitney said everyone, including the teens’ parents, agreed to the plan. He estimated the signs cost about $10, and the teens said they stole seven.
“Here’s 70 bucks and this day and age, that could be going in your gas tank or a little spending money for the weekend, but now it’s going to buy some new signs for people that you don’t like, so it’s kinda ironic,” he said.
The teens brought in the money the next day. Whitney used half to buy new shoes for students at the local school and gave the other half to the DFL, who gave him signs that the property owner agreed to share with others who wanted some.
Whitney can only think of a handful of cases of political signs being stolen in Keewatin.
“I have signs stolen out my yard,” he said. “It seems like with today’s political climate, it seems a little more charged than usual, on both sides.”
In nearby Grand Rapids, Police Chief Andy Morgan shared the same sentiment.
“I think certainly this day and age, there’s all types of passion tied in with today’s politics,” Morgan said.
“Is that the same as it was four years ago? Might be, might not be. Is it the same as it was 10 years ago? I would be fairly comfortable in saying there’s probably more passion right now than there was 10 years ago.”
Grand Rapids Police have received 34 reports of political signs damaged or stolen, as of Tuesday, Oct. 29. That’s up significantly from the next highest year, 2020, when 11 such reports were made.
“This year we’ve certainly seen an influx,” Morgan said. “... There’s no doubt in my mind those numbers are higher. It’s just some people understand that the likelihood of, one, locating the sign, two, locating who’s responsible, is tough.”
He explained when a report is made, the responding officer will gather information like when and where the signs were taken, similar to any other theft case. They also look for what evidence could assist law enforcement in finding the culprit.
“Lots of these times, under these circumstances, it’s very little information is available. These typically are mass-produced, it’s not unique,” Morgan said. “And typically these thefts are taking place overnight.
“Passionate offender is in, grabs what they want and leaves, making it extremely tough for law enforcement to effectively follow up.”
He said of the cases this year, no signs have been recovered and nobody has been cited for theft.
Some people whose signs have been repeatedly stolen have tried using Apple Air Tags or similar technology to track their signs.
“While I commend people putting technology into assisting us, it has yet to produce recovery of signs or identifying passionate offenders,” Morgan said.
Keewatin Chief Whitney said things are different in small towns, which is why he was able to try a unique tactic to addressing the thievery. He shared another example from a few years ago when some kids “did something stupid” at the school. Whitney worked something out with the custodial staff, and the kids spent a Saturday cleaning at the school.
“So I can teach them a lesson. If it works out, I’m all about that,” he said. “It’s one less thing through the court.”
Whitney had one parting message for sign thieves.
“Quit stealing signs people. Go vote.”
