University Lecturer Caught Stealing GOP Yard Signs in New York

BY: Jeffrey Cimmino Follow
@jeffcimmino

November 5, 2018 5:42 pm

A lecturer at the State University of New York at New Paltz was caught on video stealing Republican yard signs in New York.

Laura Ebert, who is an economics lecturer, has been charged with misdemeanor larceny for stealing signs endorsing Rep. John Faso (R., N.Y.) for Congress and Marc Molinaro, the GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York. Video shows Ebert pulling up to a woman’s front yard, getting out, and putting the political signs in her pickup truck.

My lawn signs for #NY19
@JohnFasoNy and @marcmolinaro we’re just stolen from my front lawn 😡 pic.twitter.com/4IWbzojLIA

— 🇺🇸 Lisa McMerica🍀🇺🇸 Vote Red 🇺🇸 (@LisaMcGov) November 1, 2018

The police report names a Laura C. Ebert, born on Oct. 23, 1964, as the perpetrator of the crime. The Facebook page for a Laura Ebert, who is an economics lecturer at SUNY New Paltz, has Oct. 23 as her birthday. Furthermore, the Facebook page says she graduated from Bard College in 1986, consistent with a birth year of 1964.

Ebert is listed as a lecturer in economics on the university’s website.

According to the police report, Ebert apologized for stealing the signs.

“Based off my observation of the security footage, I patrolled to the residence and made contact with Ms Ebert and she was subsequently taken into custody for petit larceny,” the report reads. “Ms Ebert stated that she was ‘sorry’ and that she had disposed of the signs.”

Last month, Rep. Mimi Walters (R., Calif.) called out her opponent’s supporters for stealing and destroying yard signs. A few weeks ago, Minnesota state representative Sarah Anderson was punched in the arm after seeing a man destroying Republican yard signs.

Faso is engaged in a competitive race against Antonio Delgado in New York’s 19th Congressional District. Recent polls have shown a back-and-forth battle for the lead. Molinaro is running against incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D.) who holds a 13-point edge according to the most recent survey.