Photo by Deb Gau Campaign signs for Republican and Democratic candidates could be seen in two neighboring yards in Marshall. This week, local branches of both parties were reminding people to respect others’ political signs after incidents of vandalism and sign theft.

MARSHALL — Thefts of political campaign signs have been reported in Marshall this month after a relatively quiet summer, said Marshall Public Safety Director Jim Marshall.

Marshall Police received a total of 10 reports of political signs being stolen in October, Marshall said. Seven of those thefts were reported between Oct. 13 and 15, he said.

Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen said a few sign thefts have also been reported in other area communities this year.

“There are probably some that go unreported,” he said.

“It’s just so frustrating,” said Anita Gaul, chairwoman of the Lyon County DFL.

Gaul said several Marshall and Lyon County residents had spoken to her about stolen political signs this campaign season, and the number of thefts seemed to have increased in the past couple of weeks.

Gaul estimated that this year, about twice as many people had spoken to her about stolen political signs as filed reports in Marshall. She said she encouraged area residents to contact law enforcement if they had signs stolen or vandalized.

“I think some people are just hesitant, and some people are like, ‘It’s just a sign,’ ” Gaul said. “But it’s still trespassing. It’s still theft.”

John Alcorn, co-chairman of the Lyon County Republicans, said he didn’t think the party had received reports of campaign sign theft or vandalism recently. However, there had been signs removed by the Department of Transportation for improper placement, he said.

Both Alcorn and Gaul said county parties were urging people to respect others’ property.

“We need to respect everyone’s right to post the signs they want on their property,” Alcorn said.

The issue of campaign sign theft and vandalism isn’t a new one in the Marshall area. In the summer before the 2020 presidential election, Lyon County political parties were hearing so many reports of stolen signs that they held a meeting with Wallen and local media to talk about the problem.

The sign issue returned with a different twist in 2022, when Marshall Police removed more than 100 political signs from lawns in the city. Jim Marshall said police had received complaints from residents that the signs were too close to the street. Since 2022, the city of Marshall has tried to take a more proactive approach to communicate where campaign signs are allowed. Under state law, political signs can’t be placed in a street or highway right-of-way. Under Marshall city ordinances, signs must be placed at least 10 feet back from the sidewalk.

This year, there have been sign thefts reported in other Lyon County communities, in addition to the thefts in Marshall this month. Wallen said the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office had received a total of five reported thefts since June. One theft was reported in a rural area, one in the city of Ghent, and three in the city of Lynd. The Lynd incidents were reported in July and August, Wallen said.

Last month, Minneota also reported sign thefts. Minneota Police Chief Bill Bolt put out the word on social media that “numerous” campaign signs had been stolen from yards around the city in the early hours of Sept. 15.

“This election season is very stressful, and this type of crime makes it even worse,” Bolt said in a post on the city of Minneota’s Facebook page.

Bolt called on community members to contact him with information on the thefts. Juveniles later came forward to return the signs, and Bolt posted that they would receive age-appropriate consequences.

“It’s always an issue every election cycle,” Wallen said of political sign thefts. “We would ask that people are respectful of other people’s opinions,” and leave the signs alone, he said.

This week, both the Lyon County Republicans and the Lyon County DFL put out posts on social media urging people to respect others’ property, and not to vandalize or steal signs.

“We’re just trying to follow the rules and run a fair campaign,” Alcorn said.