Authorities: Rash Of Stolen Street Signs In Ridgewood Is Costly And Dangerous
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- It's happened again, street signs have been stolen in a Bergen County community, and officials said the situation has become dangerous.
Two of the signs were turned into Ridgewood police after being ripped off of a pole, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.
"Mostly the street signs, but there have been occasions where somebody has taken a 'stop sign,'" Chief John Ward, Ridgewood Police said.
Authorities: Rash Of Stolen Street Signs In Ridgewood Is Costly And Dangerous
Police said the timing seems to coincide with kids leaving for college, and that it's been happening for the past couple of years.
"Having been in college in the last 10 years or so, a lot of students take them to their college dorm rooms and put them up as a trophy so to speak, so I am not surprised, it is dangerous," Edna Sanfilippo said.
In addition to safety problems, there are cost concerns.
"One of these signs costs $65 a piece just to produce and that doesn't include the staffing hours to put the sign up, pole, and fix it," Ward said.
To get the signs back, police are offering amnesty to anyone who turns them in by September 15, or they will face prosecution.
"In case somebody steals a stop sign, if there's an accident after that sign has been removed and we can attribute that to a person taking it and there was injury and serious injury, or death that person could be liable criminally for the death of that person," Ward said.
The chief added that the signs are too heavy and bulking to work as dorm room decorations, but lighter, printed ones can be made.
Parents can also be held liable if kids have signs in their home. The village is now putting distinctive markings on their signs, they have also increased police patrols.
