Vail Police Seek Suspect Who Stole Campaign Signs in Green Bronco

Aspen —Nine signs. One green Ford Bronco. A 12:45 a.m. timestamp on a surveillance camera that caught the whole thing.

That is the current reality for Vail Police, who are asking neighbors to help identify a suspect they believe stole campaign signs from multiple roundabouts in town. The incident hit on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 24, according to a press release from the town of Vail. The stolen property belonged to Rebecca Anderson, a Vail Police sergeant running for Eagle County sheriff in the Nov. 3 general election.

Let’s do the math on the damage. The town valued all nine signs at approximately $100 total. That is less than the cost of a single round trip to Denver for gas and parking, yet it has generated enough noise to warrant a dedicated police investigation. On paper, the financial loss is negligible. In practice, the optics are messy because the theft targets a specific candidate in a tight race against incumbent Sheriff James van Beek.

The Vail Daily reported that the surveillance footage shows a person exiting the customized green Bronco, grabbing a sign, and driving away moments later. The town’s release noted that the theft occurred on town of Vail property, which matters legally. While yard sign theft is rampant across Eagle County and often treated as misdemeanor theft, stealing from public property can alter the charge. In some cases, it may also include trespassing on private property, but since these signs were on town-owned roundabouts, the jurisdiction is clear.

Anderson addressed the incident in an email statement to the Vail Daily, emphasizing that “tampering of any kind goes against what it means to have a fair and equitable election process.” She framed the theft not just as property damage, but as an attack on the effort and energy her team is putting into the campaign.

The other side of the aisle isn’t staying silent either. Anna Garza, spokesperson for van Beek’s campaign, wrote that her team is “deeply disappointed to see this happen.” She stressed that while they may disagree politically, every campaign has the right to express its views. Taking or damaging signs is not an acceptable way to respond to political differences, she added. Garza also noted that her volunteers are instructed to respect all campaign signs and follow local ordinances when placing their own.

This isn’t a new problem for the valley. The Vail Daily noted that yard sign theft was rampant during the 2024 election, with deputies and law enforcement agencies throughout Eagle County receiving multiple citizen complaints. But this incident is distinct because the suspect was caught on camera, and the vehicle — a customized green Bronco — is identifiable.

Vail Police are treating this as a priority investigation despite the low dollar value. They want to know who was in that Bronco at 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 24. If you saw that vehicle, or if you know who was in it, the town wants to hear from you.

The practical impact for locals is simple: check your roundabouts. If you see a sign that doesn’t belong, or if you recognize the green Bronco in your neighborhood at odd hours, call Vail Police Investigations at (970) 479-2201 or email [email protected]. The town is looking for a name, not just a vehicle description.

The election is Nov. 3. The signs are gone. The camera has the answer, but it needs a human face to match the driver’s seat. Until then, the $100 in stolen plastic and wood sits as a symbol of how thin the ice has gotten in Eagle County politics.