String of stolen and vandalized signs deemed 'serious' safety issue in Allegheny Township

A spate of stolen and vandalized traffic signs along two rural roads in Allegheny Township have officials seeking the public’s help in apprehending the thieves.

“We’ve been here seven times since January,” said Allegheny Township Public Works Director Roger Schwarz, while standing next to a recently replaced stop sign Thursday at the intersection of Grossheim and Willowbrook roads. “And five times since May 3.”

To date, six to eight road signs have gone missing. In addition, speed limit signs have been run down by vehicles.

“Sometimes they take the whole sign and post — everything — and sometimes the sign is laying in the middle of the road,” Schwarz said. “And it’s different every time.”

He said most of the sign thefts have occurred Fridays or Saturdays, both in the day and at night.

Schwarz said he has never seen anything like it in his decade with the public works department.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Roger Schwarz, director of public works for Allegheny Township, checks on a newly replaced stop sign Thursday along Watson Road.

The most recent vandalism — of two stop signs — occurred last Tuesday at Willowbrook intersections with Grossheim and Watson roads. .

That incidents were reported by a resident. When Schwarz arrived on the scenes, both signs were in the middle of the road.

“The stop signs are a major safety concern, and we have to address them right away when they’re down or removed,” Schwarz said. “Once we’re notified of a missing sign, we’re responsible to replace them.”

Each sign costs the township more than $200 to replace.

Police Chief Duane Fisher noted sign theft penalties can include fines of up to $1,000 and two years in jail.

“If it results in a crash and we can prove that, then it could result in other charges such as reckless endangerment and things like that,” Fisher said.

The other affected intersection is nearby at Watson and Willowbrook roads.

A stop sign was removed and discarded June 13.

“We found the sign discarded here on the road. We were able to reuse the sign,” Schwarz said.

Schwarz has ordered replacement of the road signs for Willowbrook and Grossheim, but they won’t be ready for several weeks.

Those signs are attached to the top of the stop sign and cost up to $70 each.

Supervisor James Morabito stressed the financial impact the sign situation is having on township taxpayers.

“This ongoing issue is turning into a serious issue. This is affecting every one of us as a taxpayer. The signs are not cheap, and the wages of our public works (is incurred). Public works has to come back out to these roads to put these up, even if it’s on a weekend, when they are missing — so we’re all participating in the cost of this vandalism,” Morabito said.

So far, there have been no leads or tips from the public, Schwarz said.

“We just need to get this out to the public,” he said. “Maybe somebody has seen or heard something.”