CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are looking for a man who stole campaign signs from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police.
The thief was caught on camera. The organization posted multiple videos on Facebook showing a person removing the signs and putting them in the back of an SUV. The FOP says the incidents happened on Oct. 10, Oct. 15 and then again on Oct. 20. Investigators said the man put the signs in the back of a Black Jeep Grand Cherokee.
"This same person has stolen our political signs displayed near the road of our lodge for the third time," the group posted on Facebook. "We're hoping something knows who he is."
It is a crime in North Carolina to steal a legally placed political sign. According to FindLaw, anyone charged with stealing a political sign from private property could also be charged with trespassing. The Fraternal Order of Police was blunt when it comes to how they feel about the thief.
"Given our organization is comprised of cops, this makes him either really bold or just stupid," the agency wrote. "We know some disagree politically, but the amazing thing about this country is that we can still get along while we disagree. People like him who steal political signs because they disagree, are part of what's wrong with our country. We have a never-ending supply of these signs, so we will happily keep replacing them."
North Carolina law also states that political signs are permitted to be placed in the right-of-way of state highways between 30 days before the start of early voting and 10 days after Election Day. However, any political sign that is still in the right-of-way 30 days after the date they’re supposed to be removed “shall be deemed unlawfully placed and abandoned property, and a person may remove and dispose of such political sign without penalty.”