A massive highway sign sticking out of a pickup truck is difficult to overlook, particularly when the truck is parked alongside the highway in broad daylight.
That was the scene Wednesday morning near San Antonio, where two women decided to help themselves to Texas Department of Transportation signage. A passing motorist spotted the activity and flagged down the local police chief, who happened to be headed to a police supply store.
The resulting photographs show a red pickup carrying an enormous green highway sign, with its metal reinforcement extending well beyond the truck’s bed. Other photographs show portions of the signage on the roadside.
Both women were arrested and now face felony theft charges involving property valued between $2,500 and $30,000. The incident also raises an interesting question about the value of highway signs, which can be remarkably expensive to replace despite the comparatively modest scrap value of their aluminum.
An Unexpected Detour
The Von Ormy Police Department reported that its chief was traveling through the 9700 block of Southwest Loop 410 around 10:29 a.m. on October 14 when a motorist flagged him down. Additional Von Ormy officers and San Antonio police responded, taking both women into custody without incident.
The department observed that highway signs aren’t lightweight and suggested the women were “clearly on a mission.” It also offered some practical advice: Anyone needing directions should use GPS, while anyone wanting a highway sign should consider buying one rather than taking it from the roadside.
Bexar County booking records identify the women as Ayla Bernice Maldonado, 38, and Deyanira Eli Maldonado, 40. Both were arrested at 10:38 a.m. and charged with theft of property valued at $2,500 or more but less than $30,000, a state jail felony.
Each received a $7,500 bond and was released on a personal recognizance bond early Thursday morning. In Texas, a state jail felony ordinarily carries a potential sentence of 180 days to two years of confinement and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Aluminum Equation
Highway signs are commonly manufactured from aluminum, a lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal that also has value as recyclable scrap. Their reflective lettering and protective surfaces are applied to the metal, while larger installations use reinforcing components to support the panels.
The TxDOT sign-material specifications describe aluminum panels in varying thicknesses and configurations, making it possible to estimate what the raw metal might be worth.
A solid aluminum panel measuring four feet square and one-eighth of an inch thick weighs approximately 28 pounds. At an illustrative scrap price of 50 to 85 cents per pound, its aluminum would bring roughly $14 to $24. A similarly constructed four-by-eight-foot panel weighs approximately 56 pounds, increasing the estimated scrap return to $28 to $48.
Replacing a highway sign involves considerably more than the cost of aluminum. Manufacturing, reflective materials, transportation, installation, and supporting structures contribute to the finished expense.
TxDOT maintenance estimates have priced certain aluminum-sign replacements at approximately $20 to $27 per square foot. Using $27 per square foot, a four-by-eight-foot sign would cost $864 to replace, before any separately priced supports or additional installation work.
More Than Scrap Metal
Texas has specific regulations governing the sale of materials commonly targeted by metal thieves. Under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956, street signs are expressly included among regulated metal materials, with recycling businesses required to collect identifying information and maintain transaction records.
TxDOT has also addressed aluminum-sign theft in its engineering specifications, identifying the problem as a reason to consider alternative materials such as fiberglass.
Authentic highway signs can have value beyond their metal content, attracting collectors and buyers looking for unusual decorations for garages, restaurants, or automotive-themed spaces. Historic or uncommon examples can command prices substantially above their scrap value, although transporting and displaying a sign as large as the one photographed in the pickup presents its own challenges.
The potential economics are striking. A large aluminum panel could yield only a few dozen dollars at a scrap yard while costing hundreds of dollars to replace, with additional expenses possible for supports and installation. Its sale through a legitimate recycler would also be subject to Texas metal-dealer regulations.
Police have not disclosed the women’s motive or the calculation supporting the property’s charged value.
Both women are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.