By Mina Williams
For The Enterprise
Vandalism, or perhaps pro-war activism, is the apparent motive behind the recent theft of signs from an Olympic View Drive property.
The Harry Poll family, in the 18400 block of Olympic View Drive, initially posted the “No Iraq War” signs in December. Since that time they have reportedly gone through six sets.
“I can have a new set up within one week,” Elizabeth Poll said. “I don’t know if this is truly a pro-war issue, or just kids playing around. I have a lot of signs. I’ll just keep putting them up.”
In one case the stake was left and only the cardboard sign was taken. In another case the sign and the stake were taken, she said.
Living along an arterial, the Polls have put up political signs for years. However, this is the first time signs have been removed and removed on such a consistent basis.
Other residents along Olympic View Drive, contacted by The Enterprise, reported that signs they have posted have not been tampered with.
One report of a “No Iraq War” sign being removed from a flower bed and destroyed, in the 8200 block of 208th Street SW, was received by police Feb. 10. But no other residents called and reported signs stolen from private property, police said.
“We encourage people to call in a theft report in these cases,” said Mindy Broman, police staff assistant. “Stolen signs generally happen in the fall during the political-campaign time. There have been no reports of anti-war signs being stolen.”
Mina Williams is a student in the University of Washington School of Communications News Laboratory.
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