HILLTOWNS — A perennial problem with election-sign tampering has this year resulted in an arrest, according to information provided to The Enterprise by the state police this week.

On Oct. 28, Alice J. Thomas, 59, of Westerlo, was arrested by state police following an investigation that determined she was responsible for the theft and damage of multiple political signs posted outside of a Berne home, an arrest report says. 

State Police Troop G’s public information officer, Trooper Stephanie O’Neil, told The Enterprise that the police received a complaint of criminal mischief involving political signs on Oct. 25. 

Thomas was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and trespassing, and ordered to appear in the Berne Town Court on Nov. 8. 

Thomas declined to comment on the case except to say that it was “not a theft.”

The police report sent to The Enterprise reads, in part, “On October 25, 2022, at about 5:19 p.m. Troopers received a complaint that in the course of the previous week multiple political signs posted outside the victims home located in Berne, NY were taken and/or damaged.”

The Enterprise has fielded many complaints about election sign tampering over the years, but rarely is any accusation proven. O’Neil said that the only other incident in the area recently was in Feura Bush on Oct. 10, and that the case was closed with an arrest. 

The chairman of the county’s Democratic Party, Jacob Crawford, told The Enterprise that party chairmen in each of the four Hilltowns “aren’t aware of any complaints made to them of Democratic candidate signs being stolen this year in their towns.”

The chairman for the county Republican Party, Randy Bashwinger, did not respond to an inquiry regarding complaints from Republican candidates or leaders.