Trump For President Signs Damaged, Stolen In Windham: Watch

WINDHAM, NH — A former state representative in Windham has filed a complaint with police after two incidents involving stolen and damaged political signs at his home.

David Bates, a Republican, filed the complaint Friday after his Donald Trump for President signs were stolen and vandalized, incidents that were caught on surveillance camera footage. In the first incident, on July 5, a man and woman were seen pulling at a sign and throwing it on the ground. In a second incident, on Aug. 13, a Nissan SUV with Massachusetts license plates, was seen pulling up along beside the street where the sign was placed. A man with a long ponytail then grabs the sign and the SUV leaves the scene.

Vandalism and theft of signs is nothing new in New Hampshire or anywhere else for that matter. Each election cycle, political opportunists and pranksters think they can gain an advantage over each other by damaging personal political property. It is bipartisan; both sides do it and both sides are targeted. In the age of Trump, a lot of vandalism has taken on a darker tone — including spray painted Swastikas, Nazis, and other comments, and even signs set on fire. In another incident in Windham in February, Patrick Bradley, also of Windham, was arrested and accused of assaulting a teen Trump supporter as well as destroying a tent and throwing around signs outside of the Windham High School polling location.

But to Bates, the damage and theft of the signs as much more than petty theft — it is about targeting and harming another person's rights, a crime twofer that he called it "infuriating," too.

"This is a person who is essentially trying to deny me my first amendment rights," Bates said. "He's trying to squelch my ability to support candidates that I want to support. These spoiled leftists show no respect for somebody's property or allowing others to express their political views."

Fortunately, Bates said, he was able to capture clues about the culprits on surveillance video this time — including the registration of a suspect vehicle. He said police were able to trace the license to an actual vehicle.

"It appears to be the correct plate," Bates said. "They should be hearing from the police soon."

After that, it is any guess as to what happens next.

It is a violation of state law to "remove, deface, or knowingly destroy any political advertising which is placed on or affixed to public property or any private property except for removal by the owner of the property, persons authorized by the owner of the property, or a law enforcement officer removing improper advertising." Any person who is found to be "removing, defacing, or destroying" signs on private property is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000, per violation. The fine is paid to the Secretary of State and deposited into the general fund. But all too often, Bates said, the court system and state officials have been lax about prosecution of sign theft and vandalism, even when the evidence is overwhelming, as it appears to be in this case.

"What the court does, too often, is give people a slap on the wrist," he said. "It's a joke. But what I'm hoping is that there will be action in this case. There is no disincentive (to stealing signs). They need to make an example out of (thieves). And it's not just radical leftists stealing Trump signs. Talk to any candidate. It happens all over the state. (The court system) should put the fear of God into these people."

If the court system would actually fine people who damage or steal people's private political property and harm their rights, and the media covered such cases, maybe the thieves "will be a little more reluctant (to) undermine the rule of law and diminish the respect for others," Bates said. The chaos in many communities around the nation "is an outgrowth of that," he added.

"It doesn't start with burning and looting; it begins with disrespecting the rule of law. It begins with the little things," Bates said.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects in the photos or video below can call the Windham Police Department at 603-434-5577.

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