Hagerstown Police on Friday were investigating the theft of campaign signs related to the city's general election, to be held May 19.
The thefts are occurring throughout town: in the north end, east end, even just outside the city limits where some candidates had placed signs, Sgt. Paul Kifer said Friday morning.
Most of the signs that were taken had been placed on public property. Police checked with city, county and state agencies and the signs had not been removed by those government officials, Kifer said.
Police were not releasing the names of the candidates whose signs were taken.
"We figured that would create its own monster," Kifer said.
Not all of the candidates are affected by the thefts, he said.
Police estimate that $2,000 to $3,000 worth of signs have been taken. That total includes signs belonging to Ann Holtzman, who ran in the Republican mayoral primary. Holtzman filed a police report in March saying 70 of her campaign signs were stolen.
