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* OK, here’s a weird story. A southern Illinois man claims that somebody stole some yard signs from his yard last week. No big deal. Happens all the time.
But then the man alleges that the thieves returned the signs on Friday, replanted them in the ground and then set them on fire. WSIL reports…
Here’s a hint to any aspiring political vandals, or people who want to damage their own stuff and then blame it on the opposition: This state has no statute of limitations for arson. Don’t do it.
* The Question: What’s your favorite political vandalism story?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 12:56 pm
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Two Words …
Tony Peraica.
I have others, but why not go Top Shelf and work down. Tony’s is Pricelss.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 12:58 pm
This wouldn’t be arson.
For it to be “arson”, the property has to have a value of $150 or more.
Comment by I don't want to live in Teabagistan Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 1:03 pm
===the property has to have a value of $150 or more. ===
Resodding can be expensive.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 1:07 pm
Plus doesn’t arson require the burning of a dwelling?
Comment by Cutler Fan Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 1:08 pm
Downstate in the 2008 general election, a guy put up an Obama yard sign in his front yard. His large yard abutted a rural two lane highway. He woke up one morning, walked to the front of his property, and found that the sign was torn up laying on the ground. He also saw tracks from a motorcycle which had clearly driven off the road and right over his sign.
He gets another Obama sign and puts it back in the same place in his yard. This time, though, he puts iron rebar in place of the standard thin wires and hangs the sign on the rebar with plywood between the rebar and under the bag sign. The next morning he again walks to the front of his property. He again sees fresh motorcycle tracks leaving the road and headed toward the sign. However, the motorcycle’s tracks stop at the sign and there is a very large gouge in the ground several feet behind the rebar-enforced Obama sign. The sign is bent over a bit but is still standing.Clearly, the motorcyclist attempted to run over this sign too, but when he hit the sign, the cycle must have flipped over throwing the cycle and the rider and leaving the sign in place. Judging from the marks in the yard, the driver must have gotten up after his tumble and dragged his cycle away. True story.
Comment by Oh Yeah Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 1:12 pm
Love that Downstate story! In the campaign lingo, taking an opponents sign down was referred to as
“special ops”
Comment by Rudykzooti Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 1:17 pm
Primary opponents draped bright orange “CROOKED” signs over Alderman Tim Cullerton’s signs, including the one on his lawn, and that of a judge, in addition to many more. Happened on election night.
Not sure if it was a sore primary loser, or the guy that got spanked in the runoff.
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 1:32 pm
Before I post when is the statute of limitations on other crimes?
Comment by Been There Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 2:11 pm
===when is the statute of limitations on other crimes? ===
Depends on the crime, man.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 2:16 pm
You can’t fix stupid but you can burn it down!
Comment by WazUp Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 2:44 pm
1982, Pangle vs. McBroom, Kankakee County legislative race in the first post cut-back election: less than a week to go and some knucklehead puts a pipe bomb (allegedly) on Pangle’s car. Loud noise and some broken glass, but nobody was hurt. No one was ever charged with the crime. Pangle won in a squeaker.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 2:48 pm
A man called us, outraged that someone had taken down our opponent’s sign from his yard, and blamed our campaign. He threatened, screamed, swore, claimed to have called the cops, etc. Two days later he called to say he had put up a new sign and a hidden video camera — and recorded his wife throwing the sign away.
Comment by walkinfool Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 3:00 pm
==Plus doesn’t arson require the burning of a dwelling?==
Actually, no. Yet again, Rich has done his homework:
(720 ILCS 5/20-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 20-1)
Sec. 20-1. Arson.
A person commits arson when, by means of fire or explosive, he knowingly:
(a) Damages any real property, or any personal property having a value of $150 or more, of another without his consent; or
(b) With intent to defraud an insurer, damages any property or any personal property having a value of $150 or more.
Property “of another” means a building or other property, whether real or personal, in which a person other than the offender has an interest which the offender has no authority to defeat or impair, even though the offender may also have an interest in the building or property.
(c) Sentence.
Arson is a Class 2 felony.
Comment by Agricola Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 3:18 pm
Classic zebra story.
Kids vandalize and set fire to stuff all of the time.
But if its a yard sign, it must be a Watergate.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 3:23 pm
Jeff Clarke
Comment by I just know Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 3:25 pm
Best Vandalism story ever:
Someone had the nerve to run against Bob Stille for Madison County board once.
While Stille was throwing a few (or perhaps a few too many) beers back at the American Legion, about a dozen Stille signs made it into his trunk.
As soon as he pulled out of the American Legion, he was pulled over by one of Edwardsville’s finest.
License and registration? Check.
Field sobriety test? Uh-oh. A few too many.
Mandatory car search before tow…Doh!!
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Oct 1, 12 @ 3:28 pm
A local downstate candidate for Judge had several signs stolen. He mentioned at a candidate forum that the other party had torn down his signs. One day he hid in his car while watching a sign he had just replacd. A gentleman appeared and took the sign and put it in his trunk.
The would be judge chased the person for 30 miles before he pulled over. When asked why he did it, the man said that the candidate handled an estate for his family and he didn’t like the way it turned out.
Comment by Tom Joad Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:22 am