The Mechanicsburg neighborhood is seeing an increase in election sign thefts due to political tensions

CUMBERLAND CO., Pa. (WHP) — Tensions are rising in some neighborhoods, like Mechanicsburg, as police say they are seeing an increase in reports of election sign thefts.

Neighbors who spoke with CBS21’s Maxine Rose said it’s a sign of the times.

“The fact that we’re having problems now, I think, is just an example of the attitude that the country has adopted with its particular election,” said Daniel Polinski, a Mechanicsburg resident.

Polinski, 75, a veteran, said he now has to take his election signs inside when it gets dark outside.

“We left them out all night. Had my first plate gone. Two nights later another sign was stolen,” he said. “Someone put up a Trump sign first thing in the morning. Three nights after the Trump sign, they put up a second Trump sign.”

His neighbor, Patty Hirsch, who said she has captured several incidents on her ring camera, explained that there appears to be a commotion in their usually quiet neighborhood.

“The Trump campaign, the Harris campaign – we have them both in this neighborhood. But we’ve never had this kind of hype where you take one sign from the yard and put it on another because you don’t see a sign there and you don’t know it’s illegal,” Hirsch said.

Mechanicsburg police said they have received five reports of stolen signs in the past three months. They said they also made two arrests.

However, police said most people won’t report a theft until it’s their last straw, meaning the theft could have happened multiple times before they called.

“Some people think of it as jokes, and you know, we’ve seen things on TikTok, Snapchat and stuff when it comes to that. But you know, because things are as politically charged as they are, it belongs to the people,” said Lt. Brian Curtis of the Mechanicsburg Police Department.

Lt. Curtis said when a suspect is identified, they also consider other factors, such as criminal trespass or vandalism, depending on the situation.

“The more you steal, the higher the offense, but every case and crime in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania results in fingerprinting, photographing and a criminal record.”

“To me, our police have better things to do,” Polinksi said. “You should be able to put up a sign for someone you support on your property and not allow people to steal it no matter who you do it for.”

Police also emphasized that they have seen thefts happening to people on both sides of the aisle.