Signs of the times? Concern grows over yard placard thefts

Yard signs are disappearing across Acton, prompting some in town to worry about free speech infringement.  

Many of the missing yard signs are “No Kings” signs that protest President Donald Trump and his policies. Diane Proctor, of Acton Indivisible’s Steering Committee, which provides the “No Kings” signs, described the thefts as discouraging.

“The political climate is, as we all know, not always as convivial as all of us might wish,” she said. “But one of the ways to exacerbate that discomfort is to do things that violate each other’s right to be able to speak, however it is that we express ourselves.”

Police Capt. Brian Goldman says this isn’t uncommon. “Some people come by and they take [yard signs] for whatever reasons,” he said. “We investigate it, do our best to track it down, but over the course of time, we see this. It’s not unusual.”

Goldman added that it’s not only “No Kings” signs that get targeted. “It’s a smattering of everything,” he said, and “even something completely innocuous like advertising an ice cream social for next week” can be taken. 

Police received seven reports of missing signs from September 1 to September 23. Thanks to donations, Proctor said Acton Indivisible has funds to replace roughly 450 signs without charging residents and that they don’t plan to slow down. 

“There’s just a calm determination to be able to express ourselves openly and fairly and peacefully in our community,” she said. 

Though the stolen signs might not make weekly headlines, Goldman said each report is taken seriously. “Technically, it’s larceny, and we will charge them with a crime if we can identify someone,” he said.

He recommends reporting any stolen property to police and, if theft is a significant concern, considering installing a front door camera.