Toronto man charged after several hundred election signs stolen in Etobicoke
Toronto Police have charged a 35-year-old man with theft and mischief after several hundred election signs were removed and damaged near Islington Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West between October 1 and 11.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on toronto.citynews.ca.
Toronto Police have charged a 35-year-old man with theft and mischief after investigators say several hundred election signs were removed and damaged in Etobicoke, in the 11 days before advance voting ended.
CityNews Toronto reported on October 15 that Eric Sullivan, 35, of Toronto, was charged following an investigation by Toronto Police Service officers. The investigation covered the period from October 1 to October 11.
Police allege that Sullivan was in the area around Islington Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West and was seen removing and damaging election signs during that period. Officers say he was also seen throwing the signs into dumpsters. Investigators say that several hundred signs were reported to have been removed in total.
Investigators identified Sullivan as the suspect. He surrendered to police on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Sullivan faces two charges: theft under $5,000 and mischief under $5,000, according to CityNews Toronto. No court has ruled on those charges. Sullivan is presumed innocent until a court decides the matter.
CityNews Toronto did not report any statement from Sullivan or a representative.
The Islington Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West area sits within Etobicoke's electoral wards, where multiple candidates have signs posted ahead of the October 26 vote. The 2026 Toronto municipal election covers 25 wards across the city. The City of Toronto's certified candidate list, which includes councillor candidates for each of the 25 wards, is at /on/toronto-2026/candidates. Advance voting ran from October 6 to October 11 and is now closed. Voting day is October 26, 2026, for all 25 councillor races, the mayoral race, and four school board trustee elections.
What candidates and voters can do
Any candidate or voter who sees election signs being removed without permission or damaged before the October 26 vote can report it to Toronto Police Service. This investigation resulted in charges after reports were made about missing signs in the Etobicoke area.
Questions this story answers
Who was charged in connection with the Toronto election sign theft?
Toronto Police charged Eric Sullivan, 35, of Toronto. CityNews Toronto reported on October 15, 2026 that Sullivan was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 and mischief under $5,000 after investigators identified him as the suspect responsible for removing and damaging election signs in the Etobicoke area.
Where were the election signs stolen?
According to CityNews Toronto, the signs were taken from the area around Islington Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West. This is in Etobicoke, in the west end of Toronto. Police allege the suspect was seen removing and damaging signs and throwing them into dumpsters in that area.
How many election signs were reported stolen?
CityNews Toronto reported that investigators received reports of several hundred election signs being removed. The theft and damage occurred over a period from October 1 to October 11, according to Toronto Police, who say the suspect was observed in the area during that time.
What charges did police lay?
Toronto Police laid two charges against Eric Sullivan: theft under $5,000 and mischief under $5,000. These are the charges as reported by CityNews Toronto on October 15, 2026. No court has ruled on these charges. Sullivan is presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise.
When did the suspect surrender to police?
According to CityNews Toronto, Eric Sullivan surrendered to police on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after investigators identified him as the suspect. Police say they were able to identify Sullivan through their investigation before he came forward.
What is the voter election date and where can I find voting information for Toronto 2026?
Voting day for the 2026 Toronto municipal election is October 26, 2026. Advance voting ran from October 6 to October 11. You can find voting places, registration information and the candidate list for every race on the Toronto election pages at /on/toronto-2026/news.
What should a candidate or voter do if they see election signs being stolen or damaged?
Toronto Police investigated this case after signs were reported stolen. If you see election signs being removed without permission or being damaged, you can report it to Toronto Police. The incident in Etobicoke was investigated after multiple signs went missing, and the investigation led to charges being laid.
Is stealing an election sign a crime in Ontario?
Under Ontario law, removing or damaging property belonging to someone else can result in charges under the Criminal Code. In this case, Toronto Police charged the suspect with theft under $5,000 and mischief under $5,000, which are Criminal Code offences. CityNews Toronto reported the charges on October 15, 2026. No court has ruled on the matter.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CityNews Toronto: Man charged after Toronto election signs stolen: policetoronto.citynews.ca
- Toronto 2026 election newsvoche.me
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