Sand Mountain Reporter

Albertville police are searching for a sign – actually 85 street signs – stolen from areas all over the city.

Albertville police Chief Benny Womack estimated 70 of the signs were taken during the long Thanksgiving weekend, which started Wednesday, Nov. 25. He was notified of the thefts by the city street department Monday.

The chief is asking anyone with information to notify police by e-mail at etips(at)cityofalbertville.com or call 878-1212. Citizens can leave anonymous tips via voicemail by calling 891-8221 after 4:30 p.m.

“We received a couple of calls right when we believe this started in reference to a white hatchback in two different locations where signs were stolen,” Womack said. “One of the calls describes three occupants running down the street either from or toward the vehicle.”

Womack said the city has experienced sporadic thefts of street signs for a number of years, but this latest crime spree is different.

“This is going to be a felony because of the cost of replacing the street signs,” Womack said. “We’re talking well over $2,000 to replace them. This is going to be a top priority case for us as far as property crimes.

“The ones doing this may think it’s a joke, but this is serious business to us.”

Officials said the aluminum signs were chiefly removed by bending them until they broke off the bracket.

The city intends to prosecute if the thieves are caught, said personnel/purchasing director Gary Nunnally.

“We have spanked their hands and made the parents pay in the past,” Nunnally said. “This time, if we find any of the street signs in anyone’s possession, we’re going to prosecute them. This is crazy.”

Nunnally estimated replacement costs for the signs, including labor, are at least $40 each.

“We’re replacing some of our regularly stolen signs, like Tide Avenue, Auburn Avenue and Head Street, with new vandal-proof signs,” Nunnally said. "They cost a little more, but they can’t bend them back.”

Officials plan to replace the signs stolen over the weekend.

“Most of the time we have an extra replacement sign, and we may have some in stock,” Nunnally said. “We’ll do what we can as quickly as we can to get to them.”

Crime tips

Anyone with information on the street sign thefts committed over the long Thanksgiving weekend is asked to e-mail etips@ cityofalbertville.com or call 878-1212. To leave an anonymous tip via voicemail, call 891-8221 after 4:30 p.m.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

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