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2 men charged in theft of political, other signs

BUTLER TWP — Two men face criminal charges for stealing numerous political signs.

Township police nabbed the alleged thieves over the weekend shortly after a Meridian homeowner caught the pair in the act.

Police on Thursday charged Mathias J. Cajka, 29, of Butler and Brandon M. Gates, 26, of Pulaski, Lawrence County, both with theft, conspiracy to commit theft, and receiving stolen property, all misdemeanors.

Police suspect Cajka and Gates together swiped the campaign signs from the front yards of homes, many, if not most, in the township’s Meridian area.

The men may have struck in the Connoquenessing area, too, authorities said,

One of the victims in Butler Township overnight Oct. 14 spotted the suspects outside his home on Saw Mill Run Road, and confronted them, police said.

The defendants took off in a pickup truck. Police were notified and caught the alleged sign-stealers just after midnight Saturday.

In the truck, police Lt. Matthew Pearson said, were 16 yard signs, most of them political and most in support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence.

Along with the Trump/Pence signs was another that read “Hillary for Prison,” referring to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

There also was at least one sign touting GOP incumbent Mike Kelly for Congress.

Not all the signs were political, police said. One was a “For Sale” sign and another was an advertisement for a corn maze.

Pearson said Cajka and Gates both admitted taking the signs. He would not comment on their motivation.

Police noted that they have not identified all the victims.

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