Two fewer campaign signs are among the hundreds lining roads in Vicksburg and Warren County — and one candidate claims it’s no accident.

Patty Mekus, a Republican candidate for tax collector, filed a report Monday with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department claiming a 4-by-6 foot sign disappeared from its metal frame on a strip of private property near Sherman Avenue.

Mekus said the steel frame on another sign, on Grove Street, was damaged two weeks ago, and this time it was time to call the authorities.

“Maybe this incident will benefit all of the candidates,” she said.

Mekus faces Tax Collector Antonia Flaggs Jones in the Nov. 8 general election, one of five contested countywide races.

Sheriff Martin Pace said the report was filed as a misdemeanor malicious mischief, which carries a fine up to $1,000 and a year in jail.

“We’ve had several candidates talk to us about signs being vandalized or stolen,” Pace said, adding that one other report of sign damage has been reported during the campaign season thus far. He declined to name the complainant. If a sign is reported stolen, it would be a petty larceny.

No reports of damage to political signs has been filed with the Vicksburg Police Department, Lt. Bobby Stewart said.

“There’s been none that I’ve seen, but if there’s any down, they need to report it,” he said.

The large sign cost just less than $100 and the steel frame, about $20, Mekus said.

Signs on state rights of way are picked up immediately, and candidates have 10 days after an election to remove them from county roads. Warren County enforces no penalty, but will contact candidates to remove them, Road Manager Richard Winans said.