Invasion of the yard sign snatchers

Not an election year goes by without candidates grumbling about their yard signs being stolen. This year is proving to be no exception.

Sign snatchers are becoming increasingly bold - daring to take signs in broad daylight and, in some cases, before a homeowner's eyes.

Such was the case last week when Patricio Sandoval, a registered Democrat and Littleton resident, was caught stealing a yard sign supporting Dave Kerber, the Republican running in House District 38.

According to Kerber, Sandoval pulled his white pickup truck up to a home on Ridge Road in Littleton and told the homeowner his neighbor had complained about the yard sing and he was taking it. Police tracked Sandoval down using the license plate number off his truck. He admitted to stealing the sign and was issued a petty theft ticket.

Other embarrassing snafus, however, include a 2004 incident during which Ken Fellman, former mayor of Arvada, was caught stealing the yard signs of Republican state Senate candidate Jessica Corry.

But the most outrageous story we’ve heard happened over the weekend. Matthew Grieser, a Greeley resident, had to spend the night in jail and post a $2,000 bail after allegedly stealing 28 Democrat yard signs along West 4th Street. He told police the signs were on city property, so he felt he had the right to remove them.

Stealing campaign signs is a tried and true tactic of both sides, but the bandits need to remember the most important rule from campaigning 101: don't get caught.