Charged with petit larceny
Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Cold Spring man on Oct. 17 on charges that he stole political campaign signs.
The sheriff said in a news release that a Philipstown resident called police from a home at Route 9D near Mandalay Drive after a witness alerted the resident and provided a detailed description of the suspect and a vehicle.
Deputies tracked the vehicle to the Village of Cold Spring and interviewed and arrested Lucas Gonze, 59. He was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and released with an appearance ticket at the Town of Philipstown Court. The sheriff did not say what the signs said.
Where’s the rest of this story? What signs were being stolen? Isn’t this country based on freedom of speech? Who is this hater and what party is he affiliated with? If the Highlands Current knows all this and failed to report it, then the bigger question becomes, why?
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department did not indicate in its news release what signs were allegedly taken. Does it matter?
Yes, it does matter. Any reporter should find out/provide that information. I don’t want to vote alongside of the party stealing signs on Nov. 5, so that information should be made public.
That’s how you decide who to vote for? The sheriff didn’t provide the information, and no one should be stealing anyone’s signs, regardless of party.
No, but I think the information is relevant to the public and it could help me make my voting decision. I agree that nobody should be stealing political signs. That’s why I’m interested in knowing what side is stealing signs!
It matters to me, I’m just concerned who is so against freedom of speech that they would stoop so low and steal political signs that you don’t agree with.
Especially since yard signs probably don’t have any real effect unless perhaps if the results are close.
https://highlandscurrent.org/2017/10/27/signs-of-the-time/
Why was the photographic evidence of the actual larcenies removed from the comments? I guess it really does matter, huh?
Not sure what you are referring to. Photographic evidence? There were no photos posted to or removed from our comments.
I tend to agree, but it just so happens to be one of the closest polling races of our lifetime! Yard signs may indeed make a difference this cycle. Even if they have no effect at all, it’s still not OK to steal.
True. You could argue that the more yard signs placed for a candidate, the more public support it represents, or could be seen to represent.
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” ~George Orwell
As a volunteer for my party, I have placed many election signs around Philipstown and have had numerous signs tampered with or stolen. My colleagues have had multiple similar experiences.
We have had to spend a great deal of time returning to check on signs, propping them up again when they are taken down or searching for them. Theft is a significant and costly problem for the campaign (a sign typically costs around $20). This season, I placed 24 signs and had seven stolen, five removed and dumped elsewhere, and seven put down on the ground, some multiple times. When my signs were removed, I contacted the Sheriff’s Department and received immediate help locating dumped signs. I just wish we could have identified the culprit(s).
It would be good if our local papers, town and Sheriff’s Department would make statements or run ads before elections alerting the public that tampering with or stealing election signs is a crime and the law will be enforced. Regarding my small contributions to my chosen candidates, I am frustrated and angered but undaunted. I will continue to replace my signs whenever I am able.
I am confused as to the legality of placing signs on public property, such as intersections and public roadsides? Isn’t is the equivalent of littering?