It’s not a new phenomenon, but there have been more reports of stolen political signs in Arlington amid a brighter spotlight on such thefts.
The latest incidents happened in the county’s northern reaches and involve signs for both of the major party presidential candidates.
Numerous Harris-Walz signs were taken from front yards in the Old Glebe and Rivercrest neighborhoods last Wednesday, Oct. 9. ARLnow was able to independently confirm the disappearance of signs from multiple homes on one residential street, with Ring camera video showing that the alleged theft took place shortly before 11 p.m.
In Rivercrest, a resident reporting a yard sign theft that same night posted about it on Nextdoor.
“We live on a quiet residential street,” said the social network post. “Shame on you. I truly despair for this country and how ugly things have gotten.”
This past weekend, meanwhile, the chair of the Arlington GOP posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about a Trump sign being taken during the day on Saturday.
The local party “received images earlier today of a woman caught ripping up a Trump-Vance sign near N. Glebe Rd. & 36th Rd, near the convergence of Rock Spring & Old Glebe neighborhoods,” wrote Matthew Hurtt. “Arlington Republicans have notified [the Arlington County Police Department.]”
While political signs disappearing from yards and medians happens just about every election cycle — particularly during presidential election years — Hurtt and Arlington Republicans have taken to social media this fall to call out specific instances of GOP signs being taken, including those caught on camera.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t hear from Republican voters about stolen, damaged or vandalized Republican yard signs,” Hurtt previously told ARLnow, alleging hundreds of such incidents.
On Nextdoor, other reports of sign thefts have come in from neighborhoods across Arlington.
“Hi neighbors,” wrote a Ballston resident recently, “Has anyone else had their political ‘for president’ signs stolen from their property? Ours were stolen this past weekend.”
“In the median of N. Sycamore St. near East Falls Church metro, all the Harris [Walz] signs have been removed over the past couple of weeks, save one,” wrote another local resident. “The Trump signs are still there.”
Some, meanwhile, have suggested that it’s not just politics that may be driving the sign removals. It might be disdain for signs themselves, at a time when a bumper crop of campaign signage has popped up along roadways all around the county.
“They have been stealing signs for the 3 decades I’ve lived here,” wrote a Penrose resident on Nextdoor. “There are also anti-sign activists (aka ‘nut jobs’) of all political persuasion who go around pulling signs.”
Earlier this year, ARLnow reported on the still-mysterious disappearance of dozens of “Empathy” signs from local utility poles. The signs were meant to encourage greater human connection and understanding.
