Richmond council candidate says stolen campaign signs are getting expensive

Richmond council candidate Adil Awan reported that two of his four-by-four election signs were stolen. That brings the total number of his signs that have gone missing or been damaged since the 2026 civic election began to six. Awan said each sign cost $70 and replacing them “gets expensive.”

He is one of several candidates whose signs have been stolen or vandalized during this year’s election. In late September, signs belonging to candidates from the Richmond Strong and Advance Richmond slates were also reportedly damaged.

Vandalizing, stealing or destroying campaign signs is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, where it falls under mischief. Purposefully damaging signs could lead to criminal or provincial charges; penalties depend on the value of the damage and the circumstances. Anyone who goes onto private property to deface a sign could also face a provincial trespassing fine.

Richmond RCMP told the Richmond News they received four reports in the past two months involving municipal election signs that were damaged, vandalized, removed or stolen. The incidents were reported at various locations across the city. No suspects were identified in the reported files, and investigators were limited by a lack of witnesses, evidence or surveillance footage, said Cpl. Frank Bryson, Richmond RCMP’s media officer. Bryson encouraged anyone who witnessed an incident or has video evidence of campaign sign vandalism to report it to local police.