Hollister
– Police recovered 29 stolen street and traffic signs from a
Hollister teenager’s bedroom Thursday night in what might be one of
the most egregious cases of public vandalism in the city’s
history.
Hollister – Police recovered 29 stolen street and traffic signs from a Hollister teenager’s bedroom Thursday night in what might be one of the most egregious cases of public vandalism in the city’s history.
Hollister police were called to a Hollister home after a man reported that he found 29 metal street and traffic signs in his 16-year-old son’s bedroom. The juvenile has not been arrested, but Officer Rosie Betanio said he could face felony charges for possession of stolen property. Betanio said the signs were stolen from several different cities in San Benito, Santa Clara and Monterey counties.
“A sign or two is one thing,” Betanio said. “But 29 is something else entirely.”
Police are still investigating the case, but plan to return the signs after the teenager goes to court.
Street and traffic signs can cost between $35 and $150 a piece, said Peter Corn, assistant director of Public Works for San Benito County.
“We usually have to replace about 100 signs each year,” he said. “But it sounds like we’re going to have our hands full with this one.”
Corn said street signs were one thing, but traffic devices, such as stop signs were a different matter.
“Stealing stop signs could be deadly,” he said. “Any time a stop sign is missing, that’s our top priority because of the danger of a major accident.”
Felony possession of stolen property can carry a three year prison sentence, but District Attorney John Sarsfield said the matter would likely be settled in juvenile court. However, if the missing sign resulted in an accident, the charges could be far more serious.
“Stealing traffic control devices is serious business,” he said. “If someone was killed, it would be considered involuntary manslaughter.”
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or
br******@fr***********.com
.
