Political signs vandalized, stolen in Laconia, Alton, Moultonborough

Democrat and Republican campaign signs were damaged or stolen in three Lakes Region municipalities just weeks out from the Nov. 5 General Election.

Signs promoting Republican candidates in Laconia were apparently destroyed along Union Avenue between the Best Western hotel downtown and a shop near Busy Corner, Belknap County Republican Committee Treasurer Paul Lange said. The vandals destroyed the signs on or about Sept. 8, around the time of the Primary Election.

Rep. Mike Bordes said he believed the vandals were young and ran over the signs on e-bikes before disposing of them elsewhere.

Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield confirmed Wednesday the police department was aware of the allegation and had taken a report.

In Alton, large Democratic signs were apparently stolen last week along Route 28 near Wolfeboro. 

The larger sign, measuring 4 by 8 feet, was the largest Democrats had placed in the area, Democrat candidate for state representative in Belknap 7 and local party chair Ruth Larson said. 

“We were allotted one sign of that size in Alton,” she said. 

The sign was placed on private property with the owner’s permission, she said. No witnesses have come forward.

“My signs have been disappearing all over the district,” she said.

Larson said the theft was reported to Alton police on Oct. 16. 

“Every election season, I go through this,” she said. 

Alton Police Chief Todd MacDougall confirmed two Democratic signs had been stolen off Route 28 last week. The department received a report on Oct. 16; the signs were placed the day before. He said no security cameras had been identified, noting the area is somewhat isolated from businesses and homes. 

No arrests have been made in the case. 

And Jim Alt said Democrat signs were stolen along Route 25 in Moultonborough. Those signs were placed Friday afternoon and one was cut out of its frame within three hours, Alt said.

Moultonborough Police Chief Peter Beede said his department received a report of the theft from a citizen on Friday night, and officers are looking into it. Beede said they’d follow up just as they would with any other case. 

Anyone with information about the theft can contact the department at 603-476-2400 to speak with an officer. 

Alt said another sign was placed Sunday.

“It’s gone wild on social media,” Alt said. “People don’t like to see this stuff.”

Alt said Republicans are out of line. It’s not clear who stole that sign or what political affiliation, if any, they may or may not maintain.  

“It shows the public that this is not the way that Democrats run their campaign,” Alt said. 

He said other signs have been removed between Moultonborough and Tamworth.

“This is a pattern,” he said. “The signs are big.”

Alt said signs are 4 by 8 feet or 4 by 4 feet in size. 

The larger sign, which was cut out and removed, was fastened to a lightweight wooden frame and placed into the ground on metal stakes. He said he works as a carpenter and considers building the frames his contribution to the Democratic party. 

“We’re determined to build new signs,” he said.