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submitted 6 hours ago by JonsJava@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

A woman named Laura McCaskill used an Apple AirTag to track down her stolen Harris/Walz campaign sign, which led her to a home in Nixa, Missouri. When confronted, the young man's mother admitted that the signs in the trunk of the car belonged to her son, who she described as "just an idiot."

The incident involved the theft of around 60 signs from various homes in the neighborhood. McCaskill and other residents plan to file police reports, and McCaskill expressed concern about the entitlement and lack of accountability shown by the young man and his mother. The document also discusses the legal implications of stealing campaign signs, referencing Missouri Statute 115.637 which classifies such actions as a misdemeanor offense.

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[-] x00z@lemmy.world 20 points 2 hours ago

Let's say every home had 3 signs.

That's 20 victims.

Could he then get convicted of 20 counts of theft?

[-] orclev@lemmy.world 20 points 2 hours ago

Short answer, yes. Slightly longer answer yes but there might be statutory limits on the cumulative fine as well as it depends what kind of a mood the prosecutor is in. Odds are he'd just receive a slap on the wrist, a nominal fine, and be told to stop being a dumbass.

[-] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 0 points 55 minutes ago

No because the cops are corrupt and won’t pursue charges against “one of the good ones.”

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago

This is something my former step-brother would do back when he was in high school (he actually started a "young republicans" club at his high school, back when Obama was running the first time).

[-] dhork@lemmy.world 55 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Stealing campaign signs seems like such a stupid thing to do. Yes, there is a cost to the campaign for each one, but the cost is low when they buy them in bulk. It's not like stealing the signs changes who people intend to vote for, either.

But with how easy it is for homeowners to install surveillance things (these trackers as well as video), it's only a matter of time before you get caught.

But I guess when MAGA sends their people, they're not sending their best.

[-] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 5 points 1 hour ago

It's not like stealing the signs changes who people intend to vote for, either

It's not like putting signs in your garden changes who people intend to vote for either

That's fucking weird guys, honestly 😂

[-] meco03211@lemmy.world 40 points 3 hours ago

...they're not sending their best.

No no. They are. This is their best.

These are just the pawns. Their best are the ones behind the curtain.

[-] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 18 points 3 hours ago

Years ago I knew a guy who was going around his very affluent community stealing Obama signs during his first run. He was a business owner, in his 50s, and fucking loaded. He was caught repeatedly and just kept paying the fines for it.

My guy, you're in Texas. It wasn't going to Obama. He just had unlimited money to pay the fines so he was showing how childish he was and how much he hated that others had a different opinion.

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 hour ago

You'd hope that repeated fines for the same infraction would eventually cause those funes to start escalating.

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 10 points 4 hours ago
[-] SoupBrick@yiffit.net 4 points 3 hours ago

Most likely the 3 people in their think tank who know fully well what the end goal of the MAGA movement is.

[-] TehWorld@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

*See “Project 2025” for more information.

[-] dhork@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago
[-] cygnus@lemmy.ca 134 points 5 hours ago

McCaskill expressed concern about the entitlement and lack of accountability shown by the young man and his mother.

First time meeting Republicans, eh?

[-] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 87 points 5 hours ago

I knew before I clicked this that it wouldn't be stolen Trump signs.

[-] Xeroxchasechase@lemmy.world 30 points 5 hours ago

I knew before I clicked thay whoever stole the signs is an idiot

[-] meco03211@lemmy.world 9 points 3 hours ago

That's what op said.

[-] Telodzrum@lemmy.world 5 points 4 hours ago

Yeah, I just see paint thrown on them around me.

[-] Blackbeard@lemmy.world 6 points 4 hours ago

My dad has had two stolen. He just puts another one up each time.

[-] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 53 minutes ago

I wonder if people know that every time someone has to buy another replacement sign, that's a $20 donation to Harris's campaign.

[-] jballs@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 hours ago

I wonder if people know that every time someone has to buy another replacement sign, that's a $20 donation to Harris's campaign.

[-] jballs@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 hours ago

I wonder if people know that every time someone has to buy another replacement sign, that's a $20 donation to Harris's campaign.

[-] aramis87@fedia.io 24 points 4 hours ago

They can charge them because she had her name and address on it. Others can also press charges if there's some identifying mark on it. So if you have one, from now on, just put an asterisk or line or something on it, just in case.

[-] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 hours ago

little dick drawing in the corner. "Yes officer, mine is the one with the cock graffiti"

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 20 points 4 hours ago

How do you steal a yard sign and not notice that there's an airtag on it?

[-] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 48 minutes ago

In a grab-and-run situation there isn’t much time for careful inspection.

[-] GraniteM@lemmy.world 35 points 4 hours ago

When confronted, the young man's mother admitted that the signs in the trunk of the car belonged to her son, who she described as "just an idiot."

[-] Rozz@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 3 hours ago

Probably in the board

[-] lousyd@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 4 hours ago

One time, when I was young, I had political campaign fever and stole some signs out of somebody's yard.

The signs were for Rick Santorum though, so I'm hoping the universe forgives me.

[-] riskable@programming.dev 4 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Stealing political yard signs? No.

Marking up political yard signs? Yes.

On my way to vote today I saw a trump sign that had "FELON" and "RAPIST" graffitied on it. That's a much clearer message than if there were no sign there.

It was quite respectful, actually... It still very clearly said, "Trump/Vance" it was just given some flair and it wasn't even untrue 👍

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

On behalf of the non-Pennsyltucky parts of the state, I thank you for your service and absolve you of your past crimes against signs.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 18 points 4 hours ago

THEY'RE STEALING THE DOGS! THEY'RE STEALING THE CATS! THEY'RE STEALING THE SIGNS IN SPRINGFIELD!

[-] donuts@lemmy.world 24 points 5 hours ago

The only time I'll be cheering for Apple. Good work detective. I guess they should have been glad they didn't get shot.

[-] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago

Someone was stealing signa on our street and I wondered if this would be viable. Neat!

[-] NJSpradlin@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

It’d only work if they didn’t dump them in the woods somewhere and instead brought them home. But, if they did get dumped at least you might be able to recover them.

this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
296 points (98.4% liked)

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