BREAKING NEWS–Oct. 4, 11:15 a.m.: The temperature on an already heated election season has just been raised in Wilton–Republican Town Committee chairman Al Alper is releasing photographs of people he alleges are “vandalizing, mutilating and stealing” campaign signs that promote the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.
The photos, taken between Sept. 26 and Oct. 1, show different cars traveling off the roadway onto the grass to strike a Trump sign posted approximately 1-2 feet from the curb. One photo shows two females that appear to have exited their car to approach and handle the sign. The images, which he obtained Monday evening, Oct. 3, were the first of “a steady stream” Alper expects to get from the camera, and he says that he has others images in his possession.
[Editor’s note: we have published the photos, below. On the chance that the two females are juveniles, we have obscured their images, although on the original their faces are hidden and unidentifiable.]
Alper says he put the camera up after approximately 12 signs had been “mutilated or stolen” in two previous incidents, and that he decided to start using cameras “specifically to catch and prosecute vandals.”
Alper plans to provide the photos to the Wilton Police Department and adds that he anticipates the individuals in the photos will be identified and is firm in his intent to see justice through. “I will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, and seek compensation for loss. Once identified, I will not drop the charges. No apology is going to do any good. This has happened before.”
Standing his moral ground, Alper says he is motivated by strong beliefs. “I will not tolerate destruction of personal property, the trespass of personal property, and the stifling of free speech. It’s un-American and I won’t stand for it.”
He tells GOOD Morning Wilton that he believes malicious political motivation to be behind the alleged incidents.
“Clearly the opposition has demonstrated once again how their value system is beneath being an American–that they would trample on private property, trespassing; that they would vandalize private property, things that don’t belong to them; that they would steal, and that that’s the value system of the opposition. No wonder we’re a majority party in this town,” adding, “the other side has a propensity to do this.”
He has not reached out to anyone on the Wilton Democratic Town Committee, but says that he will.
Alper fears that recent incidents are not going to be the last, given that the RTC is in the early stages of posting campaign signs. “As we start to put them out, more and more people will behave like this. My intention is to catch them and prosecute them.”
While he’s hoping anyone who is found to have vandalized or stolen the signs will be caught, Alper says he’s trying to deter more incidents from happening.
“My goal here is not to arrest some kid or mother or father. My goal is to stop it from happening. If we get the word out, they won’t do it. Because I don’t want to prosecute my neighbor. Hopefully getting this out to the public will stop this from happening. We’ll run our campaign, you run your campaign, have a nice day.”
He notes that he has multiple cameras that will be used on an a rotating basis in several different locations around town, but he declined to say how many cameras or in what locations they will be posted. The location where the photos he released to GOOD Morning Wilton were taken appears to be at the corner of Hunting Ridge Ln. and School Rd., although Alper would not confirm that.
According to Wilton Police Lt. Stephen Brennan, he hasn’t yet seen a case opened on these particular photos, but that in situations like this officers would have several considerations when investigating it: what’s the cost of the item, is it damaged, who owns the item. Depending on what they find, potential charges (of varying degree) may include larceny, criminal mischief, trespassing and vehicular violations.
In addition, police would need to determine whether any voting laws were violated.
Brennan asked that if any members of the public have information to report related to this story, to please contact him or the patrol division at 203.834.6260.
Who owns the property where this sign was located? Is it Al Alper?
Wow, Mr. Alper, let us know how you really feel about all Democrats….Is it possible its just kids being stupid and this has nothing to do about a democrat whose
“value system is beneath being an American–that they would trample on private property, trespassing; that they would vandalize private property, things that don’t belong to them; that they would steal, and that that’s the value system of the opposition. No wonder we’re a majority party in this town,” adding, “the other side has a propensity to do this.” ?
As a democrat and someone who considers themselves principled and American despite your above screed, I do not condone vandalism of any kind and do hope that your letter and the “surveillance” deters more of this disrespect of private property. I also hope that as a leader of your party you will consider your words more carefully when disrespecting an entire segment of people who live in this community with you.
“Clearly the opposition has demonstrated once again how their value system is beneath being an American–that they would trample on private property, trespassing; that they would vandalize private property, things that don’t belong to them; that they would steal, and that that’s the value system of the opposition. No wonder we’re a majority party in this town,” adding, “the other side has a propensity to do this.”
It is this type of rhetoric that feeds the divide. No wonder the number of unaffiliated voters continues to grow.
I second the opinion of RG and ewogirl, for the record.
I find Mr. Alper’s comments offensive. And I think it’s strange that he is putting up cameras.
I don’t know where to start, really.
After reading Mr Alper’s comments, I did not know whether to laugh or cry. Actually I’m hoping that Mr Alper was misquoted for I find his rhetoric unsettling. Until the culprits are apprehended, we have no idea who committed these crimes. For all we know the perpetrators were females that were offended by Mr Trump’s sexist remarks, or maybe it was the parents of a handicapped chilld who resent Trump mocking a disabled reporter, or it may have been Hipanics that took issue with Trump’s accusations that most Mexicans are rapists and drug addicts, or possibly it was people of the Islamic faith that were disgusted with Trump portraying all Muslims as radicals jihadists or it could even have been African-Americans that were offended by Trump trying to de-legitimize our first black president by claiming he was not born in America, or perhaps it was individuals who find Trump’s sophomoric, hateful policy positions an insult to our nation’s values. Or maybe it was Democrats.
Bravo. I’m fairly certain the irony is lost on Mr. Alper relative to his sweeping partisan attack against un-American democrats…..if you look at the comments on the Facebook page relative to this article it’s brainnumbing how many people are just fixated on the vandalism part and that somehow by people bringing up Mr. Alper’s comments about Democrats, we are condoning the vandalism??…
Far too many Republican signs have been stolen or destroyed over they years. In 2008, over 300 R signs were taken from the voting precincts in Wilton between the hours of 2 am and 5 am the day of the Presidential election. Democrat signs not touched. In other incidents, teen agers were seen stealing only R signs on a road at night – the D signs were left standing and adult males were seen driving on private property to gain access to and remove R signs. In 2010, two Wilton women watched a DOT truck go down Route 7 and remove only R signs, leaving D signs standing. These two courageous women followed the truck to a depot along The Merritt Parkway and asked the man they saw remove the signs why he only took the R signs. He said his boss told him to take only R signs. These women found piles of Republican signs at the depot. I think if we are to encourage civility, it is a good start to remind people to treat other people’s property with respect and to honor the First Amendment rights of people with whom they disagree.
I havent seen anyone in the comments relative to the initial letter from Al Alper condone the vandalism. No one. So those in this conversation agree vandalism is wrong and cant be explained away. What is missed by many is that the very person who is rightly offended by the lack of respect for property felt it necessary to make a sweeping judgement about all democrats that live in this town. I didnt steal a sign, I dont need to apologize for anything or prove I am worthy of a party leader’s civility. I think Al Alper needs to make an apology.
Google sign stealing….its rampant on both sides, everywhere and its disrespectful and illegal whoever does it.