Sudbury couple’s Trump signs stolen, back windshield smashed

SUDBURY, Mass. — A Sudbury couple says their Trump sign was stolen from the front yard twice this week before the back windshield of their car was smashed.

Mitchell Bistany, 92, and Susan Bistany, 80, put the sign supporting President Donald Trump for reelection on the front lawn Saturday only to have it stolen two days in a row.

After each theft, police recovered the sign and returned it. But the following day, it was damaged and tossed on the street. Then, the back windshield of Mitchell’s car was smashed with a rock, the couple told Boston 25 News Thursday.

“It’s one thing to disagree with someone else’s philosophy. You can do that,” Mitchell Bistany said. “But you can’t go after them personally and viciously as they’re doing.”

Refusing to back down, Mitchell carried a 16-foot ladder to the front yard Wednesday night, climbed up top and strung wire between two trees, hanging his Trump/Pence sign higher to deter another act of vandalism. He placed a handwritten sign below it: “No trespassing. Police take notice.”

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“It’s nasty, it’s not right, it’s immoral,” Mitchell said of the vandalism. “You wouldn’t want it done to you. So why do it to someone else?”

Sudbury police are investing the incidents. They posted on Facebook condemning the crime that “[stifles] the first amendment right of residents in the Town of Sudbury,” and encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

But police also said they hope not to file charges. Instead, they want to encourage a discussion of differing opinions.

“The use of fear, violence, and harassment on a fellow community member is unacceptable,” the post reads in part. “Our intention is to avoid criminal prosecution and instead focus on restorative justice for those responsible. We prefer to make this a learning opportunity, but if these crimes are to continue (especially against a protected class of victim), we will need to re-evaluate whether additional and more serious charges apply.”

Susan Bistany agrees with the police department’s sentiment.

“I would like to tell the individual [responsible] that I would like to sit down and talk,” Susan said. “And if we can come to sort of agreement, perhaps we won’t prosecute.”

But her husband is angry, and he wants accountability for whoever has made his wife and himself feel unsafe in their home for the first time in 58 years.

“Would you want somebody to do this to your mother and father? I don’t think so. Think about that,” he said. “And when I catch you, I’m going to make sure you get prosecuted.”

Cox Media Group