NATCHEZ &045; Campaign workers for Adams County Circuit Clerk M.L. &uot;Binkey&uot; Vines have reported to police that about 300 signs were stolen from yards of supporters aover the weekend.

&uot;We can tell it’s organized,&uot; said campaign committee finance chairman Johnny Ratcliff. &uot;This is not kids stealing the signs.&uot;

Signs were gone from the Montebello, Westover Heights and Dunkerron neighborhoods, Ratcliff said.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said the report is the first one this year of campaign signs being stolen.&uot;We don’t normally have complaints about signs being stolen,&uot; he said.

&uot;What we’re going to do is increase patrols. We’ll be on the lookout for suspicious activity,&uot; Mullins said. &uot;Anyone caught stealing signs will be charged with petit larceny, and anyone who sees someone stealing signs can charge them with petit larceny.&uot;

Ratcliff estimated the small Styrofoam signs cost just more than $1 apiece. Campaign workers are in the process of replacing the signs.

He said the Vines campaign does not want to accuse anyone of taking the signs or even press charges if someone is found.

&uot;We just want them to stop doing it,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re not going to stoop to that level.&uot;