The political-sign "bandits" need to grow up and wise up, for their own good. Stealing political signs can be hazardous to avoiding a criminal record.

It would be interesting to see police nab one or more of the individuals responsible for this election's sign thefts - to learn what candidates their illegal acts seek to benefit, and to see how sternly they would be dealt with by the criminal justice system.

Stealing campaign signs isn't the "crime of the century," but it's nevertheless an assault on the principles upon which this nation was founded.

The three county commissioners agreed that theft of such signs is a "very immature" act. If such acts are an indication of the quality of the individuals those thefts are meant to benefit, the offices in question should be the object of sympathy, not hopeful prospects for the future.

Regis Young, director of the county elections bureau, advised those who want to report sign thefts, or who know the identity of sign thieves, to call their local police departments.

"It's a criminal offense," Young said. "They will be prosecuted."

Hopefully, vigilance by county residents will help to bring such thefts to a quick halt.