Police arrest alleged campaign sign thief in Northeast Philadelphia

Clout usually avoids sign-theft stories, because it happens every election. But when the police get involved, so do we. This yarn from ace reporter Stephanie Farr is pretty juicy:

Farr reports that a Northeast Philadelphia man who was caught stealing campaign signs on the eve of the election had his vehicle confiscated by police after officers discovered it was unregistered.

Stephen Amato, 46, of the 12000 block of Cabell Road, was arrested for theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing five lawn signs in support of State Rep. Martina White, according to police and court records. FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby – whose union strongly supports White – said more than 100 lawn signs for White started disappearing across Northeast Philadelphia about a week ago.

"Every time they'd go up, they came down," McNesby said.

Political sources tell Clout the number could be much higher.

Officers on routine patrol around 9:30 p.m. Monday on the 12000 block of Academy Road saw a stopped car in the road blocking traffic and went to investigate. The officers saw Amato putting red-and-white election signs for White into the trunk of his 1997 Nissan Altima, police said. When approached by the officers, Amato allegedly turned over the signs and police confiscated his unregistered car.

The signs were returned to White. McNesby said White, who has introduced cop-friendly legislation, personally went to the Northeast Detectives Division Monday night to thank the officers. "That was really noticed," McNesby said.

What a lovefest.

Police did not release a motive for the theft. McNesby said he'd heard the offender gave a full statement to police in which he claimed to have been paid to steal the signs by White's opponent's campaign. Dan Kalai, campaign manager for Matt Darragh, White's opponent in the race, flatly denied that claim.

"The Matt Darragh campaign would never and has never paid anyone to steal a law sign," Kalai said. "Any allegations the campaign was involved in this in any way, shape or form are unequivocally false."

An attorney for Amato was not listed on court records and he did not return a request for comment left with his son.

Clout has also heard rumors that a rival labor union might have been involved in the theft, but we haven't been able to pin that down. At least Amato didn't try to steal the giant White sign hanging on that 18-wheeler parked illegally on an I-95 overpass. That'd be grand theft auto.

The political lesson here? Don't steal signs from the FOP's favorite candidate.