FARMINGTON — Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said Tuesday he has discovered four political signs that have been defaced. Three are in Franklin County and one is in Kennebec County.

He has also had reports of signs being stolen last week from Route 27 in New Vineyard.

Nichols found the signs with the same graffiti on them on his bike ride Sunday.

The campaign signs are those of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bruce Poliquin of Oakland, the Republican candidate for Maine’s 2nd District.

The defaced Collins’ signs were on Route 27 in New Sharon, Route 27 in Rome and at the intersection of Routes 41 and 2 in Farmington Falls. A Poliquin sign was also defaced in Farmington Falls, Nichols said.

It is a crime to deface or steal political signs.

Anyone who knows anything or can identify anyone involved in the defacing of signs is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 778-2680. People can also contact the department through the tip line online at www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1214

dperry@sunjournal.com