CORNWALL, Ontario – Home security cameras have captured footage of election sign thefts in Long Sault while a pair were lifted from two private residences.
In the video, released to the media late Sunday night, a person can be heard shouting “Go! Go! Go!” to the driver of a white vehicle after jumping out of the backseat to swipe a Liberal sign from a property belonging to Dale Rudderham.
Rudderham’s security cameras also snagged footage of what appeared to be the same vehicle, and presumably the same person, just minutes before stealing an NDP sign from a home across the street.
The thefts have been reported to the Ontario Provincial Police, and occurred just before 2 a.m. Sunday.
Rubberham said he will be turning the video footage over to police.
“I left a message with them earlier (Sunday) evening. It wasn’t an emergency, so I anticipate a call back (Monday),” he said. “I noticed it missing this morning on the way home from kids’ hockey.
“The car is not familiar to the area. So it’s strange.”
Rudderham believes the thefts are politically-motivated.
“I don’t know a lot of kids who are politically-motivated enough to swipe election signs,” he said, after it was suggested to Rudderham that it may have been young people out for some late-night fun. “It doesn’t appear they that they took any Conservative signs on the street.”
The video was released to the media by Justin Towndale, campaign supporter for Liberal candidate Bernadette Clement, who said the public needs to know sign theft is a crime.
“The vehicle has a distinct look, and appears to be a white, or light-coloured, Chevrolet HHR,” said Towndale.
Rudderham agreed, suggesting the vehicle had the look of an HHR.
