OTSEGO - More and more people in the towns of Otsego, Hartwick and Middlefield are finding themselves in the curious position of living on streets with no names.

Not because of any widespread changes to local addresses or highway department mishaps, but because thieves have been prowling the town roads at night stealing street name signs from their posts, officials said Tuesday.

Otsego town councilman Orlo Burch said more than two dozen road signs have been taken from local roads in recent months, most of which have been bent and twisted until they've been broken free from sealed brackets.

"This summer, it has taken off," he said, although it has been a moderate problem for several years. Most of the signs are being taken from back roads and not from roads next to major highways like Route 28 and Route 205.

While it's costly to replace the signs - about $100 for the signs and more including labor - and a burden on highway departments already stretched thin trying to repair damage from the June flooding, Burch said the real cost could come if an emergency happens on one of the vandalized roads.

"Fire, ambulance and other emergency responses are much more difficult when road signs are missing," he said in a news release. "A delay could mean a life. The people who are stealing the signs are putting us all at risk and have no regard for the welfare and safety of town residents."

Hartwick town highway superintendent Edward Rood said about a dozen signs have been taken from town roads in Hartwick, including several which apparently disappeared Tuesday night.

He said that with the town's $2 million water replacement project, general summer maintenance and flood damage repairs all still in progress, the most difficult part about the sign thefts is a lack of time.

"Trying to find the time to get things back up is the real cost," he said. Additionally, the highway department often has to take time to help Cooperstown Dreams Park visitors who can't locate where they're going because of missing road signs.

Both Rood and Burch said they suspect high school or college kids are taking the signs while out causing mischief, but they had no idea what they might be using them for, other than as trophies.

Rood said that while the price of aluminum has gone up, he can't imagine they're being taken and resold as part of some moneymaking scheme.

"That would be a hard way to make a living," he said.

Rood said they are pursuing whoever is taking the signs with the Otsego County Sheriff's office and will prosecute whoever is responsible.

Sergeant Richard Devlin with the sheriff's office said those who are caught stealing the signs would be charged with petit larceny, but could be in more trouble if their theft extends beyond street signs.

"If a stop sign is taken down and an accident is caused by that, there probably would be additional charges," he said.

If anyone sees anyone stealing a road sign or has information about who might be taking them, Devin said people should call the sheriff's office at 547-4271.

Burch said he would be more than happy just to get the signs back and that anyone who has taken them could drop them off at the town barn at night. He also asked that anyone with information about the missing signs call the town clerk's office at 547-5631.