After an apparent rash of campaign sign thefts in the county, GOP and Democratic Party leadership have joined together to appeal to the public to leave the signs alone.

In a statement released Monday, DeKalb County Republican Party Chairperson Mingy Bryant and DeKalb County Democratic Party Chairperson Jordan Wilkins jointly requested that the advertisements be left in position, and promised prosecution for anyone caught taking the signs.

The release reads:

"We, Jordan Wilkins, Chairperson of the DeKalb County Democratic Party, and Mingy Bryant, Chairperson of the DeKalb County Republican Party, ask that people who are stealing candidates’ signs stop doing so. It is not only a great expense to the candidates and their campaigns, it is a violation of federal law. Anyone removing publicly displayed campaign materials will be prosecuted."

Any information regarding the removal and destruction of candidates’ signs, should be reported to the Smithville Police Department, Alexandria Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, or the Tennessee Highway Patrol office.