Sign Thieves Hit Loma Linda's Hiking Trails

Loma Linda’s city officials are proud to know their hiking trails are popular, but they are becoming frustrated with those heading up the trails to swipe their signs.

Some 20 signs marking the name of a trail have been taken over the last couple of years from several of the city’s 25 trails, said T. Jarb Thapejr, Loma Linda’s City Manager.

Temporary and permanent signs have been taken, he said. One sign was replaced three times, he said. The first sign taken was made by the Boy Scouts. Staff put up a second sign and volunteers erected a third.

The signs themselves are not terribly costly, but it costs money and takes time for staff to head up the trail to replace the sign, he said.

All that staff finds are bare metal poles.

It's hard to know when the signs are being taken. Along the winding trails, many which branch off from one another, hikers and cyclists make their way through the valleys and canyons. On many of the trails, there are stretches when an individual or a group of hikers may have a trail to themselves.

“They've taken them down as fast as we put them up,” said Jim Walling, chairman of the Loma Linda Trails Committee.

“I don’t know why in the world they would want the signs, but it’s a problem,” Walling said.

The committee heard a report on the issue from the city manager. They have another five signs ready to be put up. The hope is they will last, Walling said.

Several cities have experienced problems with vandals or sign thieves, including Big Bear Lake and Palm Desert.

“You never know why people do this,” he said.