Crossing the Line': Man's Republican Lawn Signs Burned on His Front Lawn

With the presidential election just around the corner, more and more reports of vandalism and the targeting of those with political signs are cropping up.

Most often, yard signs are simply stolen in the dead of night.  One Illinois man, however, was stunned when his signs were allegedly first stolen-- then returned and set on fire, just outside his house.

WSIL3 relates:

"I figured signs may be stolen, but I never figured that someone would trespass onto my property and also commit vandalism and burn the signs," said Andrew Purcell.

The Carbondale resident noticed his signs supporting Republicans Mitt Romney, David Luechtefeld and Jason Plummer were missing several days ago. Then on Friday, they were back, in a charred pile on his front lawn. Plummer says he's used to hearing stories of stolen signs, but arson is a first.

"You shouldn't steal anything, you shouldn't take anything but setting them on fire next to someone's house is way beyond crossing the line," said Plummer.

Jackson County Republican Chair Gloria Campos said party leaders need to step up and address this problem. [Emphasis added]

Campos remarked: "I don't think the candidates themselves support his kind of behavior from their followers, but at the same time I don't think they're going as far as telling them to respect their opponents."

Plummer has reported the incident to police.

WSIL3 has more, including an interview with Purcell:

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