La Grange Political Sign Thefts Discussed

LA GRANGE, IL – A La Grange trustee said Monday that friends told her their political signs had been stolen recently.

"While it may be comical to some, they don't like it," Trustee Beth Augustine said.

She said she didn't think residents would call police about sign thefts.

During election season, it's not unusual for people to damage or remove signs that carry messages they dislike.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Augustine questioned whether such thefts are also considered trespassing violations.

The village's attorney, Ben Schuster, responded that it would be trespassing if a house had no-trespassing signs or the culprit was issued a no-trespassing notice beforehand.

"Certainly taking a sign that is not yours is a violation of our code as well as other criminal laws," Schuster said. "

In 2020, Hinsdale police received a dozen reports over a couple of weeks about campaign signs being destroyed or stolen.

The police did not reveal the messages on the signs. That left residents to speculate that their ideological foes were responsible.

At the time, Patch filed a public records request to determine the messages on the signs.

Of the 12 signs targeted, 10 involved the presidential race — seven for Democrat Joe Biden and three for Republican Donald Trump. All were stolen.

Also, two signs for Jeanne Ives, the Republican in the 6th District congressional race, were spray-painted. She ran unsuccessfully against Democratic incumbent Sean Casten.