Stealing stop signs a 'recipe for disaster'
JANESVILLE — Along the rural roads of Rock County, a crime trend is on the rise: stop sign thefts.
"It's a recipe for disaster," Capt. Gary Groelle said. "It can be horrific."
Five stop signs have been stolen through July 2009, compared to two all of last year, he said.
No wrecks have resulted in the thefts, but the trend could lead to tragedy if two cars collided in an intersection traveling 55 mph, Groelle said.
People have been injured or killed in other areas because of missing stop signs.
Sign theft is not a new crime, but stealing stop signs is more alarming than stealing signs that mark the speed limit or curves in the road, he said.
More stop sign thefts have been reported in recent months, possibly because it's summertime, Groelle said.
The signs have been stolen in different parts of rural Rock County, and the perpetrators are likely kids stealing signs for a souvenir or thrill, he said.
"I think it's individuals not realizing fully the damage that can be done," Groelle said. "I think it may be the thrill."
Anyone caught stealing stop signs could be charged with theft, criminal damage to property or felony recklessly endangering safety, he said. It depends on the nature of the crime.
"It is a very serious offense, and we take it very seriously, and we'd like people to report it," Groelle said.
When the sheriff's office learns of a missing sign, a deputy controls the intersection until a portable stop sign can be placed, he said. The sheriff's office has several portable stop signs.
The Rock County Public Works Highway Division is notified when a new sign is needed, said Mike Turk, shop superintendent.
The shop has new signs ready to go, he said, and people are on call 24 hours a day to replace signs.
"It's a major priority," Turk said. "It becomes deadly."
The rough cost to replace a sign is $100, including materials, labor to create the sign and labor to install the sign, Turk said.
About three or four stop signs need to be repaired or replaced every month due to theft or damage from traffic accidents, he said.
Aug 8, 2009 at 9:46 p.m.
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Someone needs to throw up some hidden camera at several random rural controlled intersections. I'd be willing to donate to that cause. Catching these trolls, & putting their butts in lock up for a week or two, if its young men, might be life changing.. If its older males (its usually a male), I have a different cure in mind, but since it has to do with amputation's.. I'll forgo any further dialog, except to say, only a total moron does stuff like steal stop signs, & since they usually live in the area, they're not considering the fact that, "it could be someone in their family's that end up getting killed at the intersections where they're stealing signs.. but idiots usually don't think. Ok.. Now I'm really done.
Aug 7, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.
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these crimes have to STOP....
sorry someone had to do it..
Aug 7, 2009 at 3:13 p.m.
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As I mentioned in another post...How much extra "work" does it take to equal the worth of someone's life...Apparently not much.
Aug 7, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.
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Countersunk rivets both ends, steel pole.......
Aug 7, 2009 at 1:37 p.m.
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Wooden posts???........Ever hear of a battery operated skill saw. Bolts, Rivots.....blah blah.....cut the wooden pole in 5 seconds and your gone.
Aug 7, 2009 at 12:28 p.m.
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Didn't they do something like that to the green road name signs?? Seems like the only way to get them is to actually dig them up and if memory serves me correct (from a past highway employee), those metal poles are about 6 feet in the ground. I don't know how deep those wooden posts are.
Aug 7, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.
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swisschick, I think you hit it... That quote might be one of those "freudian slips"...
THIS is all the more reason to attach those signs with large, countersunk *rivets*
I've got a few other ideas that probably would be best not mentioned here.
Aug 7, 2009 at 9:27 a.m.
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Maybe that means that it will depend on whose kid is caught.
Aug 7, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
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truth1 - That's exactly what I thought. ??????
Aug 6, 2009 at 7:21 p.m.
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"depends on the nature of the crime"..HUH?....the "nature of the crime" is stealing stop signs....should be a felony regardless...someone gets killed, felony manslaughter 20 to life.
Aug 6, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.
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Exactly! Then, add in the people from out of state or unfamiliar with the area's rural roads after dark, and we WILL have an accident!
Moronic!
Aug 6, 2009 at 5:26 p.m.
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Despicable. Especially this time of year, when the corn is high, you can't even necessarily see headlights.
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