Political signs continue to be stolen in North Carolina as Election Day nears
Oct 30, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As the race to win North Carolina heats up, people around the Triangle say campaign signs continue to be stolen.
"It’s not going to change my mind at all," said Lois Edwards.
Edwards says she's had signs showing support for Vice President Kamala Harris stolen out of the front yard of her Raleigh home twice.
"I feel unsettled, because it means, especially the first time, it was late at night, very late at night, that somebody was on my property," she said.
Woman finds trunk full of stolen campaign signs with help of Apple AirTag
In the latest instance, she says her neighbor, who also has a sign for the vice president, had his sign damaged.
Edwards is using this incident to double down on her support, donating $40 to each the Harris campaign and Planned Parenthood, "If I’m going to lose my sign, I’m going to put it to good work."
But it's an issue impacting supporters of both candidates.
"It does happen, and it’s foolish," said James Powers.
Powers has spent each day of early voting at the site at Bond Park in Cary. The entrance to the park was the site of a video that's recently gone viral on social media, showing people ripping up signs supporting former President Donald Trump.
"Taking the Trump signs is not going to help Kamala Harris, and any Republican that takes a Kamala Harris sign, it’s not going to help Donald Trump either," said Powers.
According to state law, stealing or vandalizing campaign signs is illegal. Those caught can be charged with a misdemeanor.
"I welcome somebody doing something for their candidate, but don’t destroy other people’s hopes, wishes, or dreams about their candidate," Powers said.
Cary police told CBS 17 they have not received any reports of signs being stolen.