Sign Stealing Puts Lives At Risk Says Penobscot Sheriff's Office

Traffic signs and cones serve an important purpose, directing traffic safely to and from its destination. But when signs go missing, that can cause confusion or worse, casualties.

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While it may seem like a funny and harmless prank to steal signs and cones from roadways, what you put on display as a trophy in your apartment could lead someone to lose their life.

According to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office, a recent rash of stolen signs in the Hermon area is not only costing taxpayers extra money but also putting lives at risk.

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Earlier this week they took to social media to warn those who would steal signs to think twice.

"Removing traffic control devices is not a victimless crime. Motorists rely on traffic controls to operate safely on our roadways. The removal of these signs has resulted in traffic crashes, often from operators not familiar with the area."

Garrett Aitken

"Recently, stop signs were stolen from several intersections in the Town of Hermon, including the New Boston Road and Bryant Road. These actions pose a great risk to motorists, cost taxpayers additional funds, and burden public worker crews."

Grace Rowan/ Townsquare Media of the Hudson Valley

The Sheriff's Department says if you do witness this kind of thing happen, please report it as soon as possible, so they can fix the situation and prevent crashes from occurring as a result of the stolen signs or cones.

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Source: Sign Stealing Puts Lives At Risk Says Penobscot Sheriff’s Office

Filed Under: Hermon, Maine, Penobscot County Sheriff's Office

Categories: Articles