Stealing or destroying campaign yard signs on private property is a crime carrying legal consequences.
But that doesn't stop it from happening every election cycle. Callawegians from both sides of the political spectrum have been impacted by political sign theft over the past couple of days and weeks.
Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said in an email his office has received reports of several stolen signs in rural Fulton and the New Bloomfield area.
"I believe it's also important to dispel rumors and social media falsehoods that the stolen signs represent a sole political party alone," Chism wrote. "In actuality, signs have been stolen that represent both major political parties."
The Fulton Police Department has only heard of two stolen signs so far. FPD Major Roger Rice said that number is less than what the department has heard of in past years.
"A lot of people, if it gets stolen, they just go out and get a new one and don't report it," Rice said.
Jim Yancey, who lives on a gravel road in the county, put up two small signs on his property.
Yancey had plans to visit a friend Saturday evening, but when he drove out his gate, he noticed one of his signs supporting Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden had been flattened.
As he paused to straighten the sign and prop it back up, Yancey noticed tire tracks - someone had driven off the road to run over his sign.
"When we got home that evening, as we drove in, I noticed the sign was gone - it had just disappeared," Yancey said.
Concerned, Yancey went out to check on his second sign.
"I could see where someone had literally ripped it off the post," he said.
Either Yancey had been targeted twice or the original perpetrator had returned to trespass on his property while he was away.
"I was pretty angry. I felt violated frankly," he said. "The first time I saw it, I thought maybe it was just a spur of the moment thing. But when I came back and they had been deliberately removed, that was done with forethought."
Then, in an odd twist, Yancey discovered the signs had reappeared.
"I'm satisfied that somebody thought the better of it and has made amends," Yancey said. "That restores my faith."
Chism said signs have been found discarded in the past, but it is unusual for them to simply reappear.
"Seldom are they returned to the actual victim themselves," Chism said in an email.
Dean Powell, of the Callaway County Republicans, said he knows of several swiped signs supporting President Donald Trump.
"It is a problem but it is hard to tell who is behind it," Powell said.
Chism said past sign thefts in the area were discovered to be pranks by young people. Two years ago, the Fulton Sun stumbled upon multiple stolen political signs in a wooded area near Fulton High School.
"Regardless of whether the bad act is a prank, it still constitutes theft and is a criminal violation subject to prosecution under law," Chism said in the email.
Powell said people have also called to complain about Trump signs - not their theft but their presence in the community.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," Powell said.
On that point, many people seem to agree.
"We've always had an understanding that everyone is entitled to their opinion in this country," Yancey said, expressing his belief that freedom of speech is essential in a democracy.
Signs, conversation and voting are healthy ways to express different viewpoints, he said.
"We don't do it through vigilantism or subterfuge or illegal acts or intimidation or bullying," Yancey said. "We let the system work."
Former state representative Gracia Backer is similarly concerned. On Sunday, Backer posted on Facebook about the issue. Her post inspired many friends, from Callaway County and elsewhere, to share their own accounts of sign theft.
"This is not a political party issue," Backer said. "Someone is stealing signs all over, and it is just not right."
Backer was an elected official for 18 years and has been politically active in campaigns and causes for 60 years.
"It's deeper than just somebody taking a sign - it's indicative of the anger that's going on in this country," she said. "I've never experienced it before."