Summit Police Say Madison Resident Stole Signs

More than a dozen stolen "No Helipad" lawn signs in Summit have been recovered, police say after they were reported stolen over the holiday weekend.

About 15 signs were reported missing by residents on Oak Ridge Avenue between Thursday and Friday nights. A handful went missing last month but this time residents caught a glimpse of the license plate of the car the thieves were using.

Summit Detective Lt. Steve Zagorski said the license plate was traced back to a juvenile in Madison who attends a private school in Summit.

Zagorski said the juvenile will be referred to the juvenile officer who will develop a corrective action plan with the parents, teachers and coaches.

David Fowkes, a resident at 50 Oak Ridge Avenue in Summit, said that he had a sign stolen from his property on both Thursday and Friday night. Likewise, he said his neighbors have also had numerous signs stolen. Fowkes estimates that in total throughout town, approximately 100 signs have been stolen since they began popping up several months ago.

"It's more than a little disappointing that those disagreeing with our point of view think that it is OK to trespass, steal private property and try to silence people using the only way they know how to voice their opinion on the effort of a multimillion dollar corporation to negatively impact our home values, safety and quality of life," Fowkes wrote to Summit Patch. "It's not OK to try to take away our freedom to lawfully and peacefully express our concerns to the public before the hospital quickly rams through yet another project to harm the local taxpayers."

The signs are in opposition to a helipad Overlook Hospital in Summit is trying to construct.