A Middletown man is arrested after police say he allegedly stole several political signs for candidates running for township committee, board of ed and other offices.

73-year old Irvin Beaver was picked up on Cherry Tree Farm Road near Chanowich Court on Sunday and charged with two counts of theft and released on a summons complaint pending an appearance in municipal court.

Police say they've been investigating the theft of signs belonging to candidates who are running for election to the Township Committee, the Middletown Board of Education, and other political offices which have resulted in the loss of hundreds of signs.

This year is reportedly worse with police seeing a significant increase in sign theft over what they've seen in years past.

Middletown Police had increased their patrols in areas where the thefts were occurring of late and that's when they observed Beaver allegedly in the act of the stealing the signs.

Beaver would take the signs, place them in his vehicle and leave the scene.

Any persons arrested or charged with offenses are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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