Closing Bell: Cobble Summer Camp Banner Stolen Again!

As of Monday morning, a banner that small business owner Michelle Thaler had put up on Court and Bergen advertising her summer camp Food Art for Kids had been stolen—marking the second time it had been thieved in a month. Michelle had this to say to us in an email: “So I waited a month, and on Saturday I hung a new banner, much smaller than the previous one at the same spot (corner of Court and Bergen). To my surprise, within less than 2 days, that banner went missing as well! Now, being a lawyer, I know that this form of advertisement does not require a permit or a license, as long as I get the permission of the owners of the lot (which, of course, I did). The banner, as you can see in the pic, is not an eye sore, and did not ‘uglyfy’ the street scenery in any way! There are many banners similar to mine in the neighborhood… religious institutions put them up on their fences all the time and so are other businesses … it just makes me wonder why mine is causing so much opposition!” Michelle is flummoxed by the the thefts and doesn’t suspect that it was teenagers since they usually get bored after pulling a stunt once and don’t do it again. Again, in her words: “I thought about going to the police but that actual damage is just the banner’s value ($200). I can’t even begin to describe the damage to the business side being that summer is close and I want as many families to know about my camp. I was a lawyer in my previous career, and I know that my banner was legal.” We’re filing this under news of the weird. Why would anyone steal a banner like this twice?
Summer Camp Banner Stolen on Court Street Last Night [Brownstoner]