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Toronto Police said that they have charged a man after hundreds of election signs were stolen and damaged in New Toronto.

Police said that the signs were allegedly pilfered and trashed in an area around Islington Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. from the day election signs were allowed to go up on Oct. 1, right up to as recently as Thanksgiving weekend.

Cops did not say in their statement which candidate’s signs had been taken. However, photos shared on social media over the weekend show a man holding folded-up signs for Ted Opitz, a former Conservative MP, while standing at the corner of Islington and Lake Shore.

Opitz is challenging incumbent Amber Morley in the Etobicoke–Lakeshore ward.

In an emailed statement on Thursday night, Opitz did not comment specifically on the arrest but said he was “deeply concerned” about the loss of campaign signs and the squandered “time and effort invested by volunteers.

“Political campaigns should be decided by voters, not undermined by the alleged unlawful removal, destruction and disposal of campaign signs,” Opitz said. “Such actions undermine the principles of a fair and democratic election.”

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The photos of the bald, bearded man carrying the Opitz signs were shared on Thanksgiving weekend on the social media platform X by regulars in Toronto’s political scene, including former MP Kevin Vuong and Laryssa Waler, a representative for Brad Bradford’s mayoral campaign.

A man was allegedly “observed removing and damaging election signs” and was seen throwing some in a dumpster, Toronto Police said in their statement. They said “several hundred” had reportedly been carried off.

A man turned himself in at 22 Division on Wednesday, Toronto Police said.

Eric Sullivan, 35, of Toronto, faces charges of theft under $5,000 and mischief under $5,000.

jholmes@postmedia.com

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