Crime of the signs: Carmel PD fights 'chronic' street sign thefts

Throughout the town of Carmel, street sign thefts have become an epidemic and a recurring quality-of-life issue that affects both residents and local services, police say..

Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann told Mahopac News that over the past few years, there has been an average of 20 to 30 signs stolen annually.

“It’s a chronic situation,” he said, noting that the missing signs create safety concerns for drivers, emergency responders, and the community at large.

“What may seem like a harmless prank carries serious consequences, both financially and operationally,” the Carmel PD said in a statement.

Hoffman noted that replacing a single street sign costs the Carmel Highway Department (and ultimately the taxpayer) more than $350, factoring in materials, labor, and installation. He said the repeated losses divert valuable Highway Dept. resources that could otherwise go toward maintaining roads and improving community infrastructure.

Beyond the financial impact, missing street signs can delay emergency response times, confuse motorists, and diminish the town’s appearance.

“We have a lot of volunteers who work in emergency and are first responders and some might not be as familiar with the area,” Hoffmann said. “It’s important for those signs to stay out there.”

The chief said that police are fighting back using some 21st century technology. Carmel PD has started using cameras where thefts have been most frequent. They’ve even installed tracking devices on some of the streets signs that have been stolen repeatedly.

“We’ve been tracking some signs that have been stolen a lot, and we actually got a hit, and he ended up having a bunch of signs,” Hoffmann said. “We went to the house, but it was kid, so we didn’t prosecute. But we did get a lot of signs back.”

Hoffman said anyone in possession of a sign can return it voluntarily to the Highway Dept. garage at 40 McAlpin Ave. in Mahopac with no questions asked. But he noted that theft or possession of street signs is a crime, and it will be prosecuted. He added that anyone who sees suspicious activity can call CPD at 845-628-1300.