The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department has put its entire patrol on alert. They want to find the person responsible for damaging several stop signs in and around Merill.

According to the Sheriff's Department, someone in a four-wheel vehicle is driving up to stop signs and knocking them over. Whoever's responsible faces more than a simple traffic ticket. If anyone is hurt or killed in an accident because of the knocked-over signs, the vandals could be held responsible for their injuries or death.

“That's just a very negligent thing to do. Anyone must know that when you remove a stop sign, you're creating a high risk of great bodily harm to people,” says Chief Deputy Mike Soucy.

Members of the Highway Department have been working overtime to replace the more than 25 signs that have been damaged so far.

Commissioner Pete Kachel says they've been lucky no accidents have happened yet.

“I just hope it would stop and the people that are doing it start to realize that this is a safety issue. It's not a fun and games thing,” says Pete.

For now, sheriff's deputies warn motorists to be extra careful at intersections and keep an eye out for anything suspicious. The Sheriff's Department is looking for a smaller four-wheel vehicle. Chief Deputy Soucy says if you do see something suspicious, try to get the license number and vehicle description and call the Sheriff's Department at 536-6272.