What is it about an election year that brings out the worst in people?

Sure, some of us disagree but do we have to go as far in our disagreements to do something as petty as steal campaign signs?

Last week I talked with J.R. Whichard, who has been heavily involved in the Romney campaign and he tells me about as quickly as he puts out signs they are stolen.

While Mr. Whichard and I are about as far apart politically as two people can be this election season, we agree on one thing: The stealing of political signs is ridiculous.

Since our first report on the theft of campaign signs, Mr. Whichard tells me, “Me and my family put out 100 more since then that we bought. Everyone has a right to back and vote for who you feel is right. My problem is we don’t have the right to steal.”

I’m with Mr. Whichard on this. Some of these signs have been taken in daylight and in heavy populated areas so you think someone would know something or have at least seen something.

The new trend in crime reporting seems to be to not report crimes unless it directly involves you. We are still a community of neighbors — at least I’d like to think so.

It disturbs me no one has seen anything and it disturbs me more that people are plucking up signs for no other reason than they don’t like the candidate the signs are promoting.

Personally, I like seeing signs, at least up until the day after the election when candidates or those supporting the candidates should take them up with the same enthusiasm and fervor they had when they stuck them in the ground.

Apparently, according to Mr. Whichard, some are just being taken up while some, as we reported earlier this month, are being replaced with the signs of opposing candidates.

This is childish but I don’t feel like children are doing this. It seems juvenile delinquents, as we reported this morning, would rather deface stuff or throw pumpkins at them.

The sign stealing, I would bet, is being done by adults who don’t seem to care they are stealing or trespassing. They certainly don’t seem to care that passionate people like Mr. Whichard are spending good money to put these signs out. “Mostly they’re just taken,” he said. “Some are getting replaced. Most of the time they’re stolen or torn up and left and are $2.75 to $3 a piece out of my pocket.”

Mr. Whichard has seen some of his signs replaced with Butterfield and Dalton signs. “It frustrates me when we’re out letting people know who all the candidates are. I don’t feel like they have a right stealing anyone’s sign whether Democrat or Republican.”

A banner Mr. Whichard put up in Halifax was taken down and placed on the ground.

He repaired it and the banner was stolen. “I have bought 10 banners. They have cost me $75.”

People don’t realize the consequences should they be caught, he said. “People need to grow up and act like an adult. It can go on your record for life.”

Everyone has the right to vote for whom you want to vote for, but just because you don’t like a particular candidate doesn’t give you the right to steal. There’s too much of that going on without something innocuous as a campaign sign being involved — Lance Martin