BURLINGTON -
In Burlington, the race for First-Selectman is heating up and with less than two weeks to go until Election Day, some believe it is also getting ugly.
State Police are investigating reports of dozens and dozens of political lawn signs being stolen over the weekend.
"People were calling me and e-mailing me and saying 'what happened to my sign?' " said Cathy Bergstrom, the Republican challenger in the race.
Bergstrom said about 70 of her signs were swiped while the signs for the Democratic Incumbent were left alone.
"They're trespassing on private property and some property damage was done," Bergstrom said. "People were driving on lawns and damaging shrubs and things like that, so, that is bothersome."
Heather Taylor, a supporter of Bergstrom, said she is on her third sign and believes the sign-swiping could be politically motivated.
"The whole street was cleared of just Cathy Bergstrom signs, so I figured, this is a bigger issue." Taylor said.
Meanwhile, Burlington's First Selectman Kathleen Zabel, the Democrat in the race who is running for re-election, said the stealing of lawn signs is hardly anything new. She said she believes teenagers in town are probably behind the prank. Back in September, Zabel said, she had lawn signs stolen and she said that State Police arrested four teens for the crime.
Either way, Zabel said who ever is doing it needs to stop.
"Our town is a better town than this. We want our kids to know, our people to know that we find that offensive," Zabel said.
Lt. Paul Vance with Connecticut State Police said that troopers are conducting a criminal investigation and that no arrests have been made. Stealing political lawn signs is considered theft of personal property. Vance said whoever is caught would face larceny and possibly criminal mischief charges.
State Police are investigating reports of dozens and dozens of political lawn signs being stolen over the weekend.
"People were calling me and e-mailing me and saying 'what happened to my sign?' " said Cathy Bergstrom, the Republican challenger in the race.
Bergstrom said about 70 of her signs were swiped while the signs for the Democratic Incumbent were left alone.
"They're trespassing on private property and some property damage was done," Bergstrom said. "People were driving on lawns and damaging shrubs and things like that, so, that is bothersome."
Heather Taylor, a supporter of Bergstrom, said she is on her third sign and believes the sign-swiping could be politically motivated.
"The whole street was cleared of just Cathy Bergstrom signs, so I figured, this is a bigger issue." Taylor said.
Meanwhile, Burlington's First Selectman Kathleen Zabel, the Democrat in the race who is running for re-election, said the stealing of lawn signs is hardly anything new. She said she believes teenagers in town are probably behind the prank. Back in September, Zabel said, she had lawn signs stolen and she said that State Police arrested four teens for the crime.
Either way, Zabel said who ever is doing it needs to stop.
"Our town is a better town than this. We want our kids to know, our people to know that we find that offensive," Zabel said.
Lt. Paul Vance with Connecticut State Police said that troopers are conducting a criminal investigation and that no arrests have been made. Stealing political lawn signs is considered theft of personal property. Vance said whoever is caught would face larceny and possibly criminal mischief charges.
