Allenhurst police are investigating a series of incidents in connection with the May 14 municipal election.
An investigation is ongoing into an email sent to residents April 28 pretending to come from the police department.
Police are also investigating the theft and vandalism of political signs.
An election for three members of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for May 14. Six candidates are running for the three seats.
In a statement issued by the department this week it said,
“To be clear, the email in question was not sent out by the APD, nor was it written or authorized by anyone at the APD. The statement that the chief requested the message be sent out is inaccurate. The APD would never publish everyone’s email addresses in that fashion. “
The police department said it has received multiple allegations of political signs being stolen or damaged over the last few weeks. Eyewitness reports have been taken and the APD is actively gathering evidence, including canvassing for surveillance videos, as police look to identify the person or persons involved in these acts.
Police said anyone caught stealing or vandalizing political signs will be prosecuted. Anyone caught damaging a sign will be charged with criminal mischief and anyone caught stealing a sign will be charged with theft.
Police also said there is no evidence that any current candidate for office in the borough has anything to do with this activity.
The police statement also said, “As it is everyone’s right to place political signs on their property, it is also a person’s right to fly the flags of their choosing on their property, even if the same might be offensive to others.”
Police urge the public to continue to report such incidents, and the APD will investigate each as they are reported.
