The grassroots group Protect Rancho Santa Fe has been posting and distributing signs throughout the community, raising awareness about their opposition to the proposed Silvergate senior living development. The nonprofit held a yard sign sale at the post office on July 22 and within days the signs started vanishing overnight.

Protect Rancho Santa Fe member Sharon Ruhnau, who had two signs taken from her property, said at least 20 others have been removed. Resident Cari Chanin’s sign was attached with fishing line and sunk into concrete and was still swiped: “They really went to some work to take it out.”

“Little by little, the signs have been disappearing so it was obvious that this was a coordinated effort of some sort and not just some random person,” Chanin said. “It is just absolutely disturbing to know that somebody is creeping around my property at 1:30 in the morning.”

The sign thefts have been reported to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Rancho Santa Fe Patrol.

After one resident on Lago Lindo installed a trail camera, the camera showed a sign being removed at 1:30 a.m. by a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Patrol, prompting many concerned residents to contact the Rancho Santa Fe Association, including Russ Penniman, the president of Protect Rancho Santa Fe.

Prior to the group’s sign distribution, Penniman said he checked with a county representative about road right-of-way setback requirements and reviewed the Covenant’s rules on placing noncommercial signs on private property.

“Under California law an individual who enters private property and removes a non-commercial sign without consent or the required noticing of hearing the process requires commits theft, trespassing and conversion,” said Penniman at the Association’s Aug. 6 meeting.  “If the conduct was directed or ratified by supervisors or board members, exposure expands to conspiracy and aiding and abetting. Because the individual was in uniform and on duty, acting as an agent of Rancho Santa Fe, the Association itself faces a vicarious liability.”

“This problem is far bigger than a couple of officers accidentally taking a few signs. It needs to be addressed seriously by this body.”

At the meeting, Association Chief Administrative Officer Dominique Albrecht issued a public apology for the Patrol officer’s “inadvertent” removal of the sign. She said it was dark and the officer mistakenly took it for a commercial sign.

“One of the things the Patrol does overnight is they will go and remove signs from the public right of way,” Albrecht said. “You’d be surprised at the number of signs for free taekwondo lessons and roof repair and estate sales there are, and one of the things we try to do is keep the Ranch very beautiful so they assist code enforcement.”

After hearing the complaint from residents about the sign being removed, Albrecht said she spent the day investigating what happened and found the patrol officer involved was very apologetic.

“We have reminded our staff not to remove any signs related to anything that is supporting any initiative and free speech issue that happens in the Ranch,” said Albrecht. “I want to assure the community that it will not happen again.”

During board member comments at the close of the meeting, the directors dismissed any insinuation that the board or Association staff was coordinating or directing sign removal for the controversial project.

“The conspiratorial nature of the accusations are at its best disappointing,” said Director Mark Simpson. “There’s nothing going on like that.”

With the number of signs stolen, Director Jeff Simmons said the thefts should be reported, and they should let the sheriff’s investigation play out. “To implicate that there’s some kind of conspiracy is outrageous,” he said.

Per the Covenant, a private sign may be erected but it remains subject to the continuing jurisdiction of the board. If the Association receives a complaint about a sign, the board may require an alteration in design, a change in location, or any other modification it deems appropriate after providing notice to the property owner and an opportunity for a hearing.