A Chadron woman caught by a wildlife camera in Chadron stealing a political yard sign for the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Sunday will not face charges.
Chadron Police Chief Tim Lordino says the family that owned the sign decided against pressing charges. The woman, whose name has not been released, could have faced up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine for misdemeanor theft.
Lordino says the family was among several Chadron residents who’ve had political signs taken in recent weeks and had worked with the police to set up the wildlife camera that caught the woman in the act at 11:18 Sunday night.
Neither the family nor police could identify the some, so Chief Lordino sent copies of the photos to the media and posted them on the department’s social media accounts asking for help in identifying her. The woman was identified within a few hours.
In the release that accompanied the pictures, Lordino said “theft is a crime” regardless of any politics – adding that “It’s OK to disagree with someone’s political views, but let’s not become disagreeable. Please leave other’s property alone,”
A recent letter to the editor of The Chadron Record from a fairly recent Chadron arrival complained of having several yard signs stolen, writing that it led them to believe Chadron was not the kind of community they thought and that perhaps they should move somewhere else.