Clay County Seeing Increase In Stolen Street Signs

Clay County officials are noticing an increase in stolen street signs.

Highway Department Commissioner Jason Browning said the county has struggled with citizens stealing signs for many years.

“It’s an ongoing problem we have here in this county,” Browning said. “People just continue to steal the signs. Sometimes the guys out working, they’ll come in and find a few somewhere, eight or ten, sometimes more at a time where somebody stole them and threw them out in a ditch somewhere. A few have been seen at yard sales. It’s pretty bad.”

Browning said the county budgets nearly $6,500 to $7,000 per year just for street sign replacement.

“We budget several thousand dollars a year of taxpayers money for these signs, and some of these people that are stealing these signs are probably stealing from themselves,” Browning said. “They don’t realize what they’re doing. Some of it’s probably young kids, and some of it probably is not… Of course, when they get on these backroads it’s easy for them to get those signs, especially after dark when no one’s around.”

Clay County Sheriff Brandon Boone said his department is aware of the ongoing issue.

“It’s more of a safety issue than anything because of officer and EMS response and knowing the roads,” Boone said. “Our county’s unfortunate because we have a high turnover rate in officers, and a lot of the new officers don’t know the roads and they’re learning. Obviously, they utilize those signs to be able to navigate their way through the county.”

Boone said many stolen signs in the county could be because of teens who don’t consider their actions.

“Young people don’t think about it, but if they’re caught and charged with theft of property, obviously that goes on their record,” Boone said. “At the time it’s all fun and games, but that fun and games could affect them in their career path in the future. They don’t think about those things when they’re all riding around with each other, having fun, trying to think of things to do at nighttime.”

Boone said residents who find stolen street or road signs should contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office or the Clay County Highway Department.

Those charged for stealing street signs could be fined or even jailed if found guilty in court.