Thinking caps on to thwart sign thieves

A surge in the theft of street signs has forced authorities to take extra security measures.

Most appear to have been removed for novelty value but many are stolen to be sold for scrap.

Signs related to people, places, alcohol and cars are particularly popular, with those bearing the name Ford or West most commonly stolen.

Staff at Directions Limited, one of the country's largest sign maintenance firms, have to be creative to stop the thieves.

"We try to eliminate the problem by installing signs higher, or using special frames so it is difficult for them," said general manager Gary Flexman.

In Auckland, petrolheads are driven by signs on Bathhurst Rd and Commodore Drive, while soap fans get in a lather over Shortland St and Melrose Place.

Car-crazy thieves are also active further afield, with Holden Ave in the Waikato and Holdens Rd in Waitakere going fast.

The most-replaced sign in Manukau is Natalie Place while in Marlborough, Manchester St, Liverpool St and Bristol St took the biggest hits.

On Auckland's North Shore, signs on Topliss Drive and, perhaps more surprisingly, East Coast Rd were targeted "intermittently", said city council spokeswoman Lisa Inder.

"Approximately 10-20 newly made street name signs go up each month."

People are more honest in Tauranga, although the sign for Denny Hulme Dr, named after New Zealand's only Formula One World Champion, was stolen regularly till security measures were put in place a couple of years ago.

In the capital, students got the blame for thefts.

"We don't get that many signs taken, maybe two or three a year," said Wellington City Council spokeswoman Michelle Brooker. "It's usually stop signs near universities or polytechs."

Cantabrians appear more interested in alcohol and double entendre.

Signs for Tui St and Speight St in Christchurch are stolen about half a dozen times each year and another popular acquisition is Muff Rd, in South Canterbury.

Orari resident Roger Payne said the road had barely been sign-posted in three years and wants the original geographic name, Ohapi Rd, restored.

Flexman said signs cost between $110 and $250 to replace, although the bill can reach $450 if the whole sign and post fitting is taken.

Some councils are now using anti-theft bolts to stop signs being ripped off posts.

Directions upgraded 25 chevron signs in Waitakere and 15 were stolen the next weekend.

Flexman said they were likely stolen by other contractors, or for their scrap value.