Apparently, the vandalism bug isn’t just limited to an individual or two heading to the Bridgeport City Pool. In recent days, the Bridgeport Police Department has been receiving complaints regarding an ailment that strikes a certain time every few years.

 

The ailment involves a need by some to destroy, deface or often steal political signs in Bridgeport. Police Chief John Walker said while it’s not unusual for it to happen every election cycle, people need to realize what they’re doing is a crime.

 

“We’ve been seeing campaign signs being taken out of a lot of resident’s yards, which is not unusual. That doesn’t make it okay, but whenever you have any election, whether it’s a state election or a local or national one, you have this problem,” he said. “I think people that are doing it may not understand that along with it being illegal that these signs are expensive and they’re creating a problem for the candidates.”

 

Walker said the complaints aren’t limited to just one candidate. He said the issue is among multiple candidates that area having the problem. Because of the problem and because of the difficulty in catching someone in the act of vandalizing or taking a sign, Walker is asking for the community to help be the eyes and ears needed to put an end to it.

 

“We’re asking for the community to help. We’ve instructed our officers to be on the lookout for this, but it’s terribly hard to catch someone,” said Walker. “When people are taking them, they’re generally looking up or down a street before grabbing them so they wait until there’s no traffic around. You add to that the fact that many of the signs are in places where there is only vehicular traffic and it makes catching someone difficult.”

 

If you have any information or are suspicious about incidents involving political signs, Walker asks individuals to contact the Bridgeport Police Department. The Bridgeport PD can be reached at 304-842-8260.