Street Sign Thefts Plaguing Rural Areas
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Street sign theft has become a big problem in Crockett County. The disappearing signs are costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. “Sometimes we find them. We find 7,8,10 of them in a ditch,” said Sheriff Troy Klyce. “So it’s like they went and stole them just for fun and just threw them away.” Officials say this kind of “fun” is costing Crockett County Taxpayers $20,000 a year. Many people feel with GPS there is no longer a need for street signs. However, out in the county there are places that GPS will not help you find. “GPS does not work everywhere,” said Brandon Ward Director of Crockett County Ambulance Service.”In fact, almost everyone has a story where GPS sent them to the wrong location in their personal vehicle and in an ambulance. GPS is a reliable tool but it’s not 100 percent.” “If you have emergency responders responding to a scene if they are coming after me and I need em there fast, the last thing I want is them sitting on the side of the road messing with the GPS,” said Sheriff Klyce. According to the sheriff signs are being stolen from all over the county. “If we had an extremely bad accident like a huge tornado and you had emergency responders from other counties coming here they are going to rely on GPS and road signs that’s all because they are not gonna know the roads at all,” said Sheriff Klyce. “We need those street signs to be where they are supposed to be,” said Ward.
