A FORMER detective's graveyard stakeout may have led to the unmasking of Caterham's mystery banner thief.
The Mirror reported last month that about 15 banners promoting various community events had been stolen in recent months from the official hoardings site near the top of Church Hill.
So, last week, ex-police officer Andy Parr took matters into his own hands and kept watch for four hours – eventually catching a sign-snatcher red-handed.
Mr Parr, the chairman of the Caterham Festival, told the Mirror: "Last Wednesday, I kept watch from St Mary's churchyard car park nearby.
"Eventually I saw a man come along. He cut off the plastic ties on a sign for a Caterham Rotary charity event towards eradicating polio.
"When I confronted him he got uptight.
"He claimed to be removing them for the benefit of Tandridge District Council 'because loads of us don't like them'. Then he threw the plastic ties in the road."
The man spoken to by Mr Parr gave his address as 181 Stanstead Road, which does not exist.
Mr Parr, who has reported the matter to the police, added: "I checked with the council and they denied all knowledge of him and what he was doing."
Mark Jones, who organises the town's annual DeFest music festival, said: "Hopefully we can get this sorted out because I've got some nice banners to go up for next summer's event.
"Is this man removing them because he thinks they are tatty?"
A "grey-haired old lady" was said to be responsible for at least of one of the thefts, after a passer-by saw her removing a fireworks poster last month.
Banners taken recently include those promoting a mini-market at Caterham United Reformed Church and an open day at Essendene Lodge School.
Other banners – posted near the former Clifton Arms pub in Coulsdon Road and outside the NatWest Bank in Croydon Road, Caterham – have also been pinched.
Graham Tapley, the organiser of a string of Meet Caterham Business events in the town, said he had resorted to attaching his banners to chains after falling foul of a thief.
Caterham Hill Neighbourhood Officer PC Andy Simms said: "We are aware of the thefts, and the local team is doing patrols around the area.
"The banners have been placed there legally by the victim and removing and keeping them is theft."
Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call police on 101.
