Posted by jeff on June 09, 2002 at 16:10:26:
well darnit, i cant have anything nice LOL
Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by Charity
Posted by Charity on June 08, 2002 at 22:04:01:
OK, let me first say that I tried to give this person the benefit of the doubt. I figured it was just the county taking my signs, but now I don’t think so.
This guy has signs all over the county I work. His signs always look the same. I started putting mine up in the same areas, but not on the same corners or anything. A few weeks ago, I placed one at a pretty major intersection and his was across the highway. Passed it a few days later and his was still up, mine down. So, I figured he got lucky with the county. Put mine back out… a few days later, same thing.
Then, there was a new player in town with red signs (mine and his are yellow). He also started putting them up around the same areas. Then I noticed today that his are now gone too and this same investors are still up. No matter where I go, his stay and everyone else’s go. It is obvious that he is taking them down.
Any idea how to combat this without stooping to his level by taking his down?I don’t want to have to keep buying signs over and over more often than I would normally have to…
Charity
C “How 2 Deter Humans” Post Above:-)nt - Posted by Harold Whiteley
Posted by Harold Whiteley on June 11, 2002 at 13:53:03:
(nt)
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by Jamel
Posted by Jamel on June 09, 2002 at 18:36:08:
I noticed today while I was posting bandit signs, that a few of my competitor’s signs had another number posted over the original number. It had to be about 12 different signs in the area with this same number. This was my first time posting signs in this area. I couldn’t help imagining someone using my sign to make money!! I sure hope this doesn’t happen to me… for their sake!!!
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by jeff
Posted by jeff on June 09, 2002 at 13:20:11:
it agrevates me to no end when my signs are stolen. i have ben trynig to come up with an idea that allows m,e to leave them up all the time and have no troublwe with city and theives. here is the best diea i have, whetehr it works or not i have no clue, i havent done it yet, still thinking.
if i fnid a good property where i want it, someopnes yard or something. there are usually several yards around, if i can find noe or two or three that i can pay monthly, maybe $20, to have the sign sit there year round. this way, the sign is in someones personal yaerd that allows it to be there. it is not in any public place, and it is not bothering anyone except the owner of the property who has agreed to let me put it there. if it is stolen from here, id think yuo can contact the theif (if you know who it is) and t=inform them that your sign is on private property and and is not owned by them, you will prosecute if it happens again.
im not sure about the prosecution thingy, but i do know that about month ago, during election time, signs of condidates were stolen and thrown in the driveway of one of the condidates. the police came out and investigated, im not sure what they were investigating, but it was inthe paoper. i dont know if was investigating trespassing or investingating vandelism or maybe theft of signs, but it was apparentrly illegal one way or another or theyd never been there in the first place im sure.
so with permission on private property, id think you can maybe keep your signs there. or atleast maybe scare these thieves into leaving your stuff alone. and $20 a month is nothing compared to the profit off of a well placed sign.
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by Richard
Posted by Richard on June 09, 2002 at 11:25:08:
How about Billboards or bus benches? he can`t take those down
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by GutShot
Posted by GutShot on June 09, 2002 at 08:00:26:
Here’s how you find out if it is the other guy or not… Tack one of your signs directly above his. If yours is gone in the morning and his is not, then you know for sure who it is.
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by Bill
Posted by Bill on June 08, 2002 at 22:34:05:
Here’s three ways.
- Stake out your signs and wait for him. When he shows up and takes your sign, “have a discussion” and resolve your problem.
- Same as 1, except you might say" Gee, I notice someone is taking my signs and not yours. How interesting, considering you have my sign in your hand. I’m trying to find out who it is. Can you help since I’m POSITIVE ALL YOURS will be the next targets of this person."
- Call him up and arrange to meet to discuss a property you want to sell. When you do meet, tell him that you are in business, just like him, and that if ONE more sign disappears, you will personally make it your mission to DESTROY his business.
Sorry, but when someone threatens my paycheck and takes food out of the mouths of my kids, I will play hardball.
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by Jeff (CO)
Posted by Jeff (CO) on June 09, 2002 at 16:05:49:
Posting on someone’s yard sounds like a decent idea but it would not work.
Most (not all) communities have laws against any advertising on residential property. The only three exceptions:
*** “FOR SALE” when the sign is on the actual property being sold, and set back from the public right-of-way (typically 10 to 20 feet from the roadway)
*** A contractor actually working on the property, and ONLY while the project is actually in progress
*** Political signs are allowed in yards with the property owner’s permission, but only during the election process and only if set back from the right-of-way (again, typically 10 to 20 feet from the road).
Remember, bandit signs are called bandit signs because they are illegally placed. They break the law.
Why do all these mental gymnastics to rationalize doing something illegal?
It’s a simple question, but I’m pretty sure there will be no direct answer. At least there hasn’t been one here yet.
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by Joshuaa3
Posted by Joshuaa3 on June 10, 2002 at 10:08:03:
I would have that guy running all around town on no show appointments. Call from a payphone and have a house you need to sell now at 70% ARV give a random address and a time to meet. 
Re: Another investor stealing my signs… - Posted by JohnBoy
Posted by JohnBoy on June 09, 2002 at 17:00:05:
Yes, but the good thing is that, even though this may still violate a city ordinance, it would keep other do-gooders from being able to take the signs without illegal trespass. The only ones that can do anything about it would be an employee of the city that has the power to come out and ticket you violating an ordinance and take your sign. Anyone else would be trespassing on private property and subject to civil liability and criminal prosecution.