Street signs stolen for novelty, cash

by Daniel Spencer

May 7 , 2008

STREET signs stolen around Perth are being erected in houses and garages or sold as scrap metal for cash.

The signs, range from small metal street poles to large black and white hazard boards alongside the freeway.

Some culprits are going to extreme lengths to get their sign, with even coat-head bolts and welded nuts that secure some signs failing to deter offenders from ripping them down.

Downer EDI Works, a Main Roads contractor, bears the brunt of offenders’ actions. Crew leader Dale Paul blames the poor construction of signs, saying they need to be sturdier.

 “They are not constructed strong enough,” he said.  “[The culprits] get a leverage on them and they break in the middle.”

Mr Paul believes the police are not doing enough to tackle the problem. He recalls an occasion when a culprit was spotted, Mr Paul went to the police, but has since had no contact.

City of South Perth statistics show 10 signs are stolen every year in that small local authority alone. An additional 30 signs are damaged by vandals trying to steal them. The cost to the council to replace each sign is $48, and $44 for installation.

The biggest loss of signs in Perth has occurred on the Armadale-Pinjarra road, with Bedfordale Hill another hotspot. Narrow left, narrow right and narrow one way signs were more of the common placards to go missing.

Offenders whom eMU News spoke to likened the signs to a trophy. Alcohol was often involved in the sign nickings.

“It’s a bit like a trophy and a way to release a bit of anger,” said an 18-year-old Como man who did not want to be identified. “It’s a trophy-type thing.”

A 22-year-old Salter Point man (name also withheld) said that it nearly got to the stage of being a competition.

 “It got to the point where if someone has a street sign, everyone wants one,” he said. “Often we were under the influence [of alcohol].”

Another 18-year-old Como man said “we were pretty maggot [sic] when we do it.”