Why Is Stealing Street Signs A Bad Idea?

College is a time when you are learning to be an adult. You are just finding your independence. There are many decisions to make and many freedoms you may not be used to having. This is wonderful, but it also can lead to behavior that is detrimental to a productive future. Something often seen as a harmless prank by Pennsylvania college students is stealing street signs, but this is a very bad idea.

SmartSign explains stealing a street sign is a serious crime that could land you in prison. While the simple act of stealing the sign may result in a theft charge, that is the least of your worries. If you steal, for example, a stop sign and it leads to an accident, you could face much more serious charges. You could even face a murder charge for something you saw as a harmless prank.

It is important that you understand even if nothing bad happens as a result that stealing a sign costs money. Taxpayers have to pay for a new sign, and they are not cheap. So, there are economic issues that come from this criminal act.

The approach to punishment for stealing a sign may vary. It depends on the circumstances. You could get off rather easy, but you could also end up with a more serious charge and face stiff penalties. In any case, it really is not worth it just to get a street sign that will probably end up being more of a pain than the fun conversation piece you think it will be. This information is for education and is not legal advice.