Do Not Steal these awesome local road signs

While the hugely popular song Old Town Road by Lil Nas X may have caught the eye of thieving pop music fans in Sicamous, it's not the only street sign across the region that goes missing for a variety of reasons, probably only really known to those who take them.

"People love having (signs) in their rec rooms," City of Kamloops streets and environmental services manager Glen Farrow said.

Farrow was reluctant to mention the most popular signs that go missing each year in Kamloops for fear it would encourage more theft, but he said any street sign with the word 'High' (of which there are many in Kamloops) before the name is always a popular target for theives.

City of Vernon roads manager Chris Ovens said one particular sign in the city is regularly targetted.

He estimates the Cummins Road sign has been stolen 10 times in the last five years. While the road name may have different connotations to different people, Ovens said he believes people steal the sign because it has the same name as Cummins pickup truck engines used in many Dodge trucks.

Hmm, maybe. 

Kokanee Road was also a favourite for thieves in Vernon until the city took tougher measures. That sign is now mounted to a hydro pole at least 15 feet high.

Those are oft-stolen signs but there are plenty of others with interesting or collectible names like Yellow Brick Road in Oliver. 

How about this intersection in Vernon that makes for a, er, tough choice. Driving down Kalamalka Road, you eventually must choose College Way or Husband Road. College students have made fun of that intersection for years. 

West Kelowna has roads named after all kinds of wine like Chardonnay Place, Merlot Way, Pinot Gris Drive, Shiraz Court and even Mimosa Drive and of course nearly every fruit and variety available in the Okanagan and every tree ever planted.

Or how about this memorable intersection in West Kelowna?

City of Kelowna staffer Trevor Hunchak said that street signs that once often fell prey to thieves have been beefed up with extra security. Ford Road and Thrasher Road, which shares its name with a popular skateboard magazine, have over the years been popular targets.

Hunchak said the City now puts a clearcoat proxy over the bolts that hold the signs up, which makes removing them incredibly difficult. Hunchak said the idea seems to be working as a Thrasher sign hasn't been stolen since last year. It's either that or that everyone that wanted one had already stolen one.

Did we miss any? Send us your funny local road names, especially if you have a photo to share.

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