Candidate signs were stolen, political flags were attacked

We’re a week away from Election Day, and the latest move looks set to leave tensions high among voters in Palm Beach County.

Some of you reached out to WPTV after your politically connected property was victimized.

“When I got to my car, I saw there were all these scattered Republican (signs), Say no to Amendment 4 signs and candidate signs,” Rolando Barrero said. “Then I turned around and noticed my Harris-Walz sign was missing.”

Barrero captured a woman trespassing on her property via a doorbell video and carrying her political sign on the front steps of her home.

He also left other signs for Republican candidates scattered throughout his yard.

Concerned that he would be targeted because of his political affiliation and role as chairman of the Florida Democratic Hispanic Caucus, he called the West Palm Beach Police.

“I would prefer that people who break the law be documented so we can identify them later in case harm comes,” Barrero said.

WPBPD told WPTV they charged the woman with petty theft and that she stole other non-political signs in the neighborhood.

WPBPD said they do not specifically monitor political solicitations, but theft of political signs can be a misdemeanor or more depending on the amount or value.

Road rage, physical fights or trespassing are to blame, they said.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said they have received 49 calls regarding political events since February. The busiest month was October with 13 searches.

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Barrero said he plans to install more security cameras around his property for security. He said WPBPD took the relevant signs into evidence and posted a new Harris-Walz sign.

Supporters of former President Trump also said they felt the heat.

“Have you had any experience yourself when it comes to political aggression?” asked WPTV reporter Joel Lopez.

“Mostly we see a lot of thumbs up and support, but we also see a lot of middle fingers and a lot of people yelling and screaming at us,” Jestin Nevarez said.

He drives around in a car decorated with Trump flags, stickers and other signs.

Last weekend, a Boynton Beach woman with road rage tried to rip her flag off her car at a stoplight, police said.

“We can support whoever we want, but these violent people are tearing down our flags in the middle of traffic, that’s a problem,” Nevarez said.

Political violence in the United States is at its worst level since the 1970s, with 300 cases detected since 2021, according to a report by Reuters.

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