Political sign theft and vandalism are showing up across the South Bay as the Nov. 3 election nears, the Mercury News reported. In Cupertino, city staff have received 23 formal complaints about stolen yard signs, compared with six during the 2024 election, a figure first reported by San José Spotlight.

AirTags and zip ties

Former Cupertino Mayor Richard Lowenthal, 74, backs Councilmember J.R. Fruen and newcomers Seema Lindskog and John Tang for three open council seats. He now zip-ties signs to branches and helped a friend set up a motion-activated camera. He put AirTags on some signs, and they turned up at a Santa Clara home he didn't recognize. He had to call police to get them back.

"I don't mind putting up signs, but I hate to do that multiple times," Lowenthal said.

Los Gatos, too

Los Gatos Mayor Rob Moore, who is running for reelection, said about a dozen of his signs were stolen. One downtown sign was torn and smeared with what he hoped was dog poop. He didn't report it and ordered a replacement.

The rules

  • In Cupertino, removing a sign put up with the property owner's consent counts as petty theft. That's a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
  • Residents are told to call the Santa Clara County Sheriff's non-emergency line rather than confront anyone.
  • Signs must come down within five days after Election Day in Cupertino and 10 days in Los Gatos.

"It undermines our efforts to have civil political dialogue," said SJSU political science professor Garrick Percival.

See every race and measure in our Election 2026 guide.