As campaign signs continue to be stolen, Sandy Holepit offers monetary rewards for information about the crime

As election day nears, some candidates for office in Monongalia County have had their campaign signs stolen or destroyed.

Magistrate Sandy Holepit, who is running for reelection, is offering a reward of $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who have stolen or damaged her large signs and $100 for the small signs.

All of the 17 shredded or stolen signs were on private property with landowner permission, she said. Replacing a large sign this close to the election would cost about $200 each.

The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating, however, Sheriff Perry Palmer also had six or seven signs stolen from the Cheat Lake area several weeks ago and was unable to find a suspect in the investigation.

Palmer said it’s hard to solve cases like these without someone seeing the crime.

Holepit’s signs have been tampered with around town, including Sabraton, Fort Pierpont and Goshen Road, she said.

Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s department at 304-296-7260.

Early voting is going on now and West Virginia’s primary election is June 9.

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