The topic of signs arose at the recent West Penn Township supervisors’ meeting — both people stealing them and people placing them.

“We’re losing a lot of street signs,” board Chairman Tony Prudenti said. “It’s getting out of hand.”

Thieves are taking signs from different locations around the township, he said.

The price to replace the signs, Prudenti explained, adds up — and can run into tens of thousands of dollars.

He added that recent thefts involved just the signs, not the posts.

Prudenti said that police are investigating.

In keeping with signs, one resident mentioned that some companies are placing signs at intersections. Often, he said, they are for high-speed internet services.

The resident is concerned that others will see the signs and think it’s OK to place signs for their own businesses.

At that point, he said, the signs will clutter the intersections and obscure drivers’ view.

He questioned whether people can simply place signs without permission.

Prudenti said signs advertising homes for sale are permitted.

But in the case of the business signs, he suggested having township code enforcement remove them and call the company that placed them.

He then asked township Roadmaster Jeremy Frable to dispose of any signs that are placed in township rights of way.