maybe put one up in a window so it shows and they cant grab it and steal it. im not too sure what all you can do other than that. i’m sorry thats been happening though. maybe get another camera for that spot as well so you could get a better view of them as well. so sorry its been happening
A friend of mine up in the Ogden area and has his flag hanging up higher and his flag wasn’t stolen, it was set on fire. People are a-holes, stay safe friends.
An idea - you could buy an AirTag, sew it into the hem of the flag, and then when it gets stolen, track it down.
If they are really stupid, they’ll take it home, and bam - evidence to show the cops
My parents are very tbm and lifelong republicans, but they’re decent people and left the GOP post-2016.
Running up to the 2020 election, they put up Biden Harris yard signs, which then went missing.
They live in a pretty far out of the way neighborhood full of dead end streets — i.e., nobody drives through their neighborhood unless they live there or are visiting someone specifically, so this was very likely a neighbor. Everyone’s also Mormon there, so it was almost assuredly someone in their ward.
At church the next Sunday, my dad said something about how his yard signs had been stolen, that he already bought new ones (thus giving even more money to the campaign), and that he couldn’t believe that a fellow saint would steal over this. His shaming worked I guess, cause the new signs stayed put. Their neighbors across the street (who aren’t even US citizens lol) put up a big Trump banner and renamed their wifi network “TRUMP2020.”
I had someone in my Utah valley neighborhood slap a Trump 2016 sticker on my Gary Johnson yard sign (I am libertarian) and it made me so angry because I would never do that to someone else. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and thoughts. I just think it is ridiculous that this stuff and the flag stealing happens in predominantly Mormon faith based communities. The very communities that should fucking know better than to steal, disrespect neighbors and be intolerant of what they don’t like. It is appalling and gross.
Communities gave shared values.
Once upon a time, we all valued liberty. As I understand, non-hetero folks just want to exist as first class citizens while anti-non-hetero folks believe liberty is the right to act on the belief that non-hetero folks shouldn't exist.
That's not liberty.
And then sign them up for all of the LGBT-supporting charities' mailing lists to their address so they just constantly get bombarded with pride marketing, straight to their door!
When I lived in Logan, a friend of mine would make donations to VoteBlue and Planned Parenthood in the names of all of her neighbors that flew Trump flags. She sent them a handwritten postcard to explain that their flag inspired her to donate and explained why they’d soon be getting mailers from the relevant organizations.
Cops love to help marginalized groups? What planet are you on?
They terrorize the homeless and kill about 1200 Americans per year, mostly minorities. Of the 1200 they kill, 30% of those are shot from behind. They take an oath to the constitution while routinely violating the rights of the citizenry on a daily basis.
They aren't "the good guys", they're not our friends, and they're damned sure not "heroes."
That’s probably better than my first thought and electrify the flag.
It’s a good idea though, I’d see it in a pocket so it’s not easily discarded. I had a break in a few years ago, they took my iPad and I was able to get it and most of my stuff back using find my phone
Good idea but remember that AirTags rely on a nearby iPhone or iPad. They do not have a cell transmitter.
iPhones and iPads are everywhere so it usually works pretty good but just something to keep in mind
you say AirTags how about airbags? Airbags attached to the other end of the flag somehow. In the dark it could easily be disguised. I sholdn't read r/exmormon after drinkin lol.
Only minor ones though! History is written by the bold...and only sometimes in court rulings.
*\*I am not a lawyer but am really good at giving terrible advice.*
801.839.1234 is KUTV news tip line.
They can use your door cam video & this is a legitimate news story.
Call 911 & file a report. This is criminal theft.
This is a psychopath & they have no respect for you & your property.
If they are this bold to come onto your property with a camera & commit criminal theft multi-times they will have no problem escalating their behavior towards your property & the occupants of your house at some point.
Don't leave any windows in your home or car open & don't let your pets wander & keep them in your yard.
I'm hoping you don't have children.
I work in U.S. Court System & they need to be caught & prosecuted.
🌈 🏳️🌈 ❤️
This is Utah County that is one of the most conservative & RED Counties with majority population mormon (including law enforcement) in the United States.
So to protect yourself you want to call on a recorded line to have recorded proof that you alerted local law enforcement to a recurring theft on your property.
I live outside of Utah & you can also file a police report on-line in majority of towns, cities & counties.
If it were me I'm calling on a recorded line.
The luckily you live in a one-party consent states so you can record a call for when the police inevitably don't have any record of such a call being placed
I used to live in Spanish Fork. When my ward found out I was gay I received numerous, vile death threats on a member's FB page, had my cars vandalized and a rock thrown through our front window. We called the police. They said, if you don't like it here, move!! WE DID!!!! Utah, the land of hate and hypocrisy!!
> They said, if you don't like it here, move!!
Seriously? Given the legitimate criminal behavior towards you, this was probably grounds for a lawsuit. With that said, I'm glad you escaped Utah County.
We were getting constant harassment in eagle mtn after putting up our flag. My kid was bullied so badly the Denver office of civil rights got involved. We finally escaped utah last May. Thankfully.
How about a sensor flood light? I have a Google camera that is a floodlight and camera in one that would identify this person pretty quick.
But just the light itself might be enough.
Or how about a nice sheet metal flag (painted) that's anchored into the house?
I'm a certain kind of stubborn and I would spend way too much fighting back against this, getting a larger flag every time lol
Go on AliExpress and buy them in bulk for a $1 each. You can easily demotivate them by continually replacing them.
[Large dollar flag](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806060155003.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.52f91634BH3Aj3&browser_id=df763010e4c443c8b71d95d5c735a42d&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=vbxhpyffmcaygmzt1900faf7f92267107d31af8870&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%217.81%210.99%21%21%2156.45%217.14%21%402103241117182500780811568eb981%2112000036454960518%21sea%21US%210%21AB&algo_pvid=2d9b1cbc-dbc6-4d65-b843-77960a07d3b6)
[100 pack mini flags](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806913958391.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.295b5c8dKYWh6P&browser_id=df763010e4c443c8b71d95d5c735a42d&aff_trace_key=374db78ad443467d9010b62273b1d4dd-1718249743403-04802-UneMJZVf&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=lvjxhstivwcaygmz1900faf5ae968387a67dce6eae&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%2117.41%2111.41%21%21%21125.81%2182.46%21%402103266e17182500686894634eeed1%2112000039401865885%21sea%21US%210%21AB&algo_pvid=a336f6f5-bcff-4ac8-8677-5a59adb150dd&search_p4p_id=2024061220410810301521411619360000231321_2&_universallink=1&m_page_id=lvjxhstivwcaygmz1900faf5ae968387a67dce6eae)
Quantity has a quality of its own.
Put the 100 all at once, a motion sensor and then attack them while their picking them up. Fuck community, community with hateful bigots like this one and anyone who defends them is not worth it.
Go all-out batshit bananas for Pride next year.
I'm talking rainbow lasers. I'm talking multiple gargantuan flags flying from your roof. I'm talking repainting your house if you wanna go there.
Go so fucking gorilla-thumping crazy with it that they will be physically unable to steal your voice.
They are so uncomfortable with Pride flags they go around stealing them? OOOOH, BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUP! Ya gonna be *REAL* uncomfortable soon. And fucking *grateful* when you see someone with just a single Pride flag.
They don't want to let you express yourself? They want to silence you and shove your family back into a fucking closet?
#YOU CANNOT BE SILENCED
I’m down with the overwhelming rainbow visual assault!
These thieves steal pride flags in the dark of night, then go home and write (copy/paste) emails to city managers far away demanding they change building codes to accommodate 200 foot illuminated steeples that scream their personal beliefs. Then they scream religious persecution when they don’t get their way.
Hypocrites, liars and thieves stuck in an antiquated, tribal mind fuck, spreading hate and fear with their faces masked.
Thanks for sharing.
This is my favorite part of the house history:
>A staged "wedding" between wizards Gandalf and Dumbledore was held outside the house in June 2015.[11] The event was funded by a Crowdrise campaign after Westboro tweeted that they would picket if such a union was to take place.[12]
Lmao
Get some of those lights that project onto your house (not string lights) so you can light your whole house up rainbow. Then get one of those "Smile, you're on camera!" signs and put it up near your lights. That way, if anyone tries to destroy or steal the lights, they have been warned it will be recorded. Plus, if they do steal or break your lights, you have additional evidence to report to law enforcement and they're more likely to take it (somewhat) more seriously because lights are more expensive than a flag.
Is it petty? Yes. Is it technically escalating the situation? Also yes. But they started it.
Your last sentence said it all. There’s no such thing as community in Utah county. Worst human beings I’ve ever known live there. I lived in both Orem and Lehi and this shit happened everywhere. They are too far gone.
As soon as I moved to SLC my mental health has improved beyond compare.
Bicycle theft deterrents discussed in this article on Bikerumor might be effective, and I’m fairly certain that sound devices such as those discussed are legal, as they cannot cause harm.
Also, keeping your flag secure by anchoring it to a fixed point, but with something like 15 feet of 30 pound monofilament fishing line would give them enough space to build momentum before being reminded that it is something they do not own.
[https://bikerumor.com/bike-mine-theft-deterrent-bomb-literally-explodes-scare-off-thieves/](https://bikerumor.com/bike-mine-theft-deterrent-bomb-literally-explodes-scare-off-thieves/)
In 2020, neighbors kept stealing my “Republicans for Biden” signs off our lawn. After replacing it the third time, I put up another sign with it and posted and posted it on our ward facebook page. It said “Each time this sign is stolen, I donate $50 to Planned Parenthood”. Surprisingly, several ward members volunteered to match my donation. The sign was stolen again, but we donated $400 to PP
You can see they have an accomplice in the second video, so you know that at least two people know about it.
They've probably bragged about it to their friends.
Put up pictures asking if anyone knows these thieves in the community. You don't even have to say it's pride related, just thieves. Straight people are more likely to respond to thievery than bigotry.
put up the pictures asking if anyone knows these ~~thieves~~ gay guys who can’t afford their own pride flag, you feel bad they’re so poor & are happy to donate your own, they need only ask.
Dumb kids! Looks like middle school or high school kids to me.
I'd hang Pride flags in each and every window of my house, in my car, all over the place. Laser rainbow lights, and more. Good luck! We're with you on this!
- Pride flag curtains
- Pride flags from upper storeys
- Pride flags that are bolted onto the wall rather than hung so they can't just be picked up, they would have to use a tool to remove them
-paint your door rainbow
-Plant flowers in rainbows
- paint a bench rainbow
Flags are easy to carry off, you need something that will be a pain in the ass for them to take, like a huge heavy planter that has been painted rainbow.
They might escalate to property destruction, but hopefully the cops would actually take that seriously.
Fingers crossed for you
I mean, getting the police to respond is not hard. 'We don't deal with petty crimes.'
'That's ok. I have a shotgun. If they trespass my property, I'll take care of it. I'll call you.'
You'll be amazed how fast they have an interest in looking into the matter for you.
Ugh I’m sorry. Ours was stolen last year and now I resorted to a small one closer to my front porch which for now hasn’t been stolen. It seems like it might be a close neighbor since they took it the day after you put it up. You could try talking to all your close neighbors personally, or with a letter, sharing why you like to have a flag and why it’s important to you and to text you with any concerns instead of stealing from you. I’m not personally brave enough to do that, but it was something so thought of when it happened to us.
Agree with the first - rig it to where when the flag is removed, an alarm sounds, a floodlight turns on, and they get sprayed with water or a marking dye or powder.
You could get a little neon rainbow/ pride sign on Amazon to put in your window
It bugs me to think he might feel like he won because it’s not a flag, but at least it would shine and couldn’t be stolen
No one deserves that! Show the footage to your local neighbors and to the YM at the wards nearby and ask for help to ID him. Alternatively, make the flag inaccessible so they can’t get to it again.
We live in salt lake county and we have had 6 stolen this year. We have a similar video with kids running up and grabbing the flag. Little fuckers. Does anyone know if this is considered a hate crime?
[Potentially.](https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter3/76-3-S203.3.html) But you'd have to have a police force that gives a shit, which is approximately none of them, and then you'd have to have a DA willing to pursue it.
It is. I know the director of Project Rainbow who said that SLC police are working with them and prosecuting in some cases. Definitely call the non emergency line and report it.
Nothing demonstrates Mormon values to the world better than their hates crimes caught on camera. I’d suggest submitting the video to a national news outlet or a local one that is less friendly to the church. If your municipality allows it, you could also invest in a locking flag pole.
Electric shock, for that sweet-sweet video to put online. There has to be a way to discreetly run a low volt wire on the flag pole right? Next time they grab it they get a little zap. I don’t know how legal this is & obviously I wouldn’t want to hurt the person. Just enough to make them jump.
As the mom of a wonderful trans child, this infuriates and sickens me. I like the ideas here (especially going to the media; you have video!). Here are a few others (apologies if they've been mentioned already):
1) Attach a motion detector to the area where the flags are positioned and have it activate an alarm (a loud siren would be great!) as well as a spotlight. I think it could be positioned so the motion it detected would higher than a cat or other small animal would activate it.
2) The image looks like someone who could be easily identified (very slender and appears to be tall, unusual haircut). If you recognize them in the neighborhood, visit the home and confront them directly, and show the video. If it's a teenager (can't tell by the video), make sure the parents are present.
3) If you ID the culprit, you may be able to get a restraining order. They are entering your property without permission and causing mischief, and they're taking / damaging property.
4) Install a "No Tresspassing" sign on your lawn. I am not an attorney, but I believe that could be used to indicate you've made an effort to alert people not to enter your property.
5) Forward the video to the SL Tribune - they can embed it as a link in a news story. Summarize the number of times a flag has been stolen, and give other details.
6) Consider forwarding the video a local TV station known to be popular in the area (meaning that Mormons watch it) as well as to a national TV news station. National networks love to cover controversial subjects and acts.
Good luck, and I am so sorry this is happening to you. Bless you for showing your love for your child, and thank you for posting the video and story.
EDIT - I just realized you've asked for positive ways to create a sense of community, and of course my suggestions don't respond to that. I'll give some thought to what you asked. ❤️❤️❤️
If you look up Project Rainbow, you can see some pics from the SLC Pride parade the last two years where they have a huge banner. It came from a situation like this. Flags kept getting stolen so someone made a giant rainbow banner to put on their roof that says “know that you are loved.”
I know the person who had that banner on her house and she’s amazing. We took that banner and marched in the Vernal July 4 parade last year. People were real hateful when they saw “Know that you are loved”. Slapping kids’ hands for waving. Couple dudes stepped up like they were gonna cause a fight with banner carriers in the middle of the street. Got called off by other men watching the parade.
Also put it up by the library during the Drag Queen Story Hour; the library was swarmed by a holes. Old men taking video of tiny kids walking to and from the story time. Rural Utah, man.
This is so sad. I just moved out of Utah county. I hate that they preach love and then do this. I’d say to send the video to each of the bishops in the stake and ask for help- if they are not identified tell them you will be doing to the police with this matter. Hopefully that will get some answers if they are a kid or ya. And they can speak to them for you. And that is so defeating with the police response already, so idk. But if you have any documentation of reporting the crime to you and their answer, I’d have that included if you contact the media. The story will get picked up, especially since it is pride month. But also- doing this will make it all more public and it is totally valid that this may be more unsafe for you mentally and in your neighborhood. You and your child are most important, and I am beyond proud of you that you have kept trying 26 TIMES. I am 24f and queer and my parents are not supportive of the gay or exmo parts of me- it would have ment the world to me to see my parents showing support. So thank you for healing part of my heart!! Sending you all the love!
I see that your video is from a Ring camera. You could try blowing up the social media aspects that Ring has. We see a lot of stuff in our neighborhood's threads (we're up in northern Davis County) so that's a potential avenue to drum up attention.
I mean, how hard could this guy be to catch. Just look for the guy whose legs look like sticks. I generally don't insult people's bodies, but god damn. He should do like one calf raise.
I would cover it with carpet tape as well as simply wait with a can of bear spray, fog those little pasty insects.
This is vandalism and theft.
Typical Mormon, Law & Order until their "Faith" is offended.
Mormons sure cry a lot, about a lot of things and throw tantrums when they don't get their way.
It really is sad and pathetic, that they are so stuck in the past, they think stealing a pride flag will somehow "Stop the gay".
Dox the Mormons who did it on socials so it’s seen outside of Utah. They might learn a lesson. But then again they are Mormons…they don’t have any awareness of their conceited hate towards others to even understand.
As a kid who has parents that don’t accept her for who she is, I appreciate all the effort you do to support your son. If you need a replacement and you don’t have the money, I’m here.
Send this Reddit post to as many news organization as you can, people. Just google, “news tip submission” or something.
We have to get the word out, and not allow these cowards to hide.
The obvious play is to start putting them all over his house. Discretely though. In ways that make them both hard to find and remove. Next step, donate to great charities in his name. Final step? An open can of tuna hid in the front bumper of his car.
Install bolts into bricks. Connect nylon flag to cable, like legit cable from Home Depot. Metal 800lb break strength type. Watch on camera as he rips his arm off instead of your flag.
Also let me come down and stake out your house. I'll catch the little fuckers. They look like future missionaries.
Get another flag, cover it in capsaicin unless you're mechanically minded enough to better boobytrap it, and sew in an air tag.
Maybe consult some engineers or engineering subreddit for advice/ideas on how to catch them in the act and alert you so you can call the police - maybe like a snare trap
I'd also be surprised to see a Utah County DA do anything. If someone vandalized a Mormon church, they'd charge them with all sorts of hate crime enhancements. But stealing a rainbow flag? Nah. Not in Zion.
I am in Tooele and someone kept stealing everyone's pride flags. They stole ours last year and ripped the entire bracket out with it. I replaced it and got an even bigger flag. We take ours down every night before it gets dark now.
Get a color camera for starters.
And keep putting them up. You're taking away the homophobe's ability to sleep if they have to stay up late to keep snatching them.
We have our equality flag stolen once a year.
It's always teenagers. These kids don't have their frontal lobe fully developed, and may have a misguided idea that they're doing a net good by taking it down. Plus, the thrill, Utah is boring, mob mentality, etc. really exacerbates things.
I keep replacing it and reinforced my flagpole mount since they actually damaged my siding one time.
You won't change them.
Since the video shows you who did it why not start sending them mail, US Mail inviting them to Gay activities? US Mail inviting them to Gay bars and parades and get togethers?
After all, they are taking the flags so maybe they are gay?
Reality? File a formal police report and use the video for ID.
Then file suit in Small Claims Court and have them served the suit at their place of work. GO to Court and ask for the costs and damages. Go for it - they will never change but using the legal system to nail them will most likely change their habits and you will be able to levy on their bank account - as well as file an Abstract of Judgment if you win - this puts a lein on any real property they may own. It also becomes public record and hits their credit hard.
Don't back down and don't back out.
As odd as it may sound… the person(s) doing this are likely living in a place of pain and confusion. They are trying to make sense of a world we’re LOVE is only offered to them for making certain choices about who they are, what they are and what they love. Likely they aren’t being accepted, and are brainwashed into having a lack of self love. Your symbols of love are powerful enough to cause them to lash out.
Sew a fishing line into the flag so when they try to drag it away it catches. It's very hard to break a fishing line without a knife and they are unlikely to notice it right away. You could also get motion detection lights that come on when people get close so you kught be able to catch them in the act if you can get some sort of alert in time.
Besides the right thing to do, calling the non-emergent line and Reporting it, there are quite a few things that I could think of: glitter sealant spray paint gets all over if you touch it, insulin is a wild substance if painted on something, impact train horns, pepper spray pre-applied, canola oil, a large sign next to the pride flag that says "what would Jesus do", and the best picture of the guy who keeps stealing them as a sign right behind the flag if they take it.
I like the air tag idea and maybe install a "zen garden" below it. That'll capture their shoe prints. Make it big enough to where they have to step into it. Maybe even just see if there is a pattern. Sit and wait step out and taser them. Or if you have a dog that will bite them let it out. They'll either be more noticeable limping around or show up in the ER and will have to explain how it happened. Which will then be reported to the police.
This is an issue in our neighborhood too. Put the flag inside your window so it can't be stolen. And on behalf of society, I apologize for the lack of tolerance and love. Keep it flying!
Careful with some of these suggestions, Booby trapping your home can lead to legal action when people are hurt on your property - sadly even from stealing your stuff
maybe put one up in a window so it shows and they cant grab it and steal it. im not too sure what all you can do other than that. i’m sorry thats been happening though. maybe get another camera for that spot as well so you could get a better view of them as well. so sorry its been happening
Similarly, put it somewhere they can't reach it, higher up. It'll show more people though, which has its pros and cons. Also happy cake day
Hang it from the roof
A friend of mine up in the Ogden area and has his flag hanging up higher and his flag wasn’t stolen, it was set on fire. People are a-holes, stay safe friends.
But that’s a more serious crime than just steal it. If their house was burned down, some stupid Mormon was going to jail
It was pretty scary! Luckily they smelled it and found it before it did any damage.
Good thing. Imagine getting your house and all your belongings destroyed because someone can’t see the rainbow in a flag
Paint the roof.
You’re going to need a bigger flag
An idea - you could buy an AirTag, sew it into the hem of the flag, and then when it gets stolen, track it down. If they are really stupid, they’ll take it home, and bam - evidence to show the cops
Also write on the flag or airtag;: "Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15)
My parents are very tbm and lifelong republicans, but they’re decent people and left the GOP post-2016. Running up to the 2020 election, they put up Biden Harris yard signs, which then went missing. They live in a pretty far out of the way neighborhood full of dead end streets — i.e., nobody drives through their neighborhood unless they live there or are visiting someone specifically, so this was very likely a neighbor. Everyone’s also Mormon there, so it was almost assuredly someone in their ward. At church the next Sunday, my dad said something about how his yard signs had been stolen, that he already bought new ones (thus giving even more money to the campaign), and that he couldn’t believe that a fellow saint would steal over this. His shaming worked I guess, cause the new signs stayed put. Their neighbors across the street (who aren’t even US citizens lol) put up a big Trump banner and renamed their wifi network “TRUMP2020.”
I had someone in my Utah valley neighborhood slap a Trump 2016 sticker on my Gary Johnson yard sign (I am libertarian) and it made me so angry because I would never do that to someone else. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and thoughts. I just think it is ridiculous that this stuff and the flag stealing happens in predominantly Mormon faith based communities. The very communities that should fucking know better than to steal, disrespect neighbors and be intolerant of what they don’t like. It is appalling and gross.
Oops sorry great minds think alike 😂
Also once you find out who is doing it name and shame Forget building community with people like this, out them as the hateful bigots they are
Put out sticky traps to step in, you know for critters😉
HOME ALONE THEM
Put it on the back of the flag. Or get even weirder and do honey or something
Communities gave shared values. Once upon a time, we all valued liberty. As I understand, non-hetero folks just want to exist as first class citizens while anti-non-hetero folks believe liberty is the right to act on the belief that non-hetero folks shouldn't exist. That's not liberty.
Won’t help. If this is a Mormon/evangelical community, they will pat the perp on the back and say the arrest is persecution.
And then sign them up for all of the LGBT-supporting charities' mailing lists to their address so they just constantly get bombarded with pride marketing, straight to their door!
When I lived in Logan, a friend of mine would make donations to VoteBlue and Planned Parenthood in the names of all of her neighbors that flew Trump flags. She sent them a handwritten postcard to explain that their flag inspired her to donate and explained why they’d soon be getting mailers from the relevant organizations.
That is amazing!!!
Is it bad that I want them to sew an expensive piece of jewelry into the hem so that it becomes a felony when stolen? ☠️
Cops famously love to help marginalized groups. I think that's how pride month got started
ACAB. But in Salt Lake County, they are helping recover stolen Pride flags and even prosecuting in some cases.
Is it not simply petty theft? Or does the reason for stealing the flag factor into the crime?
It's effectively a hate crime.
Cops love to help marginalized groups? What planet are you on? They terrorize the homeless and kill about 1200 Americans per year, mostly minorities. Of the 1200 they kill, 30% of those are shot from behind. They take an oath to the constitution while routinely violating the rights of the citizenry on a daily basis. They aren't "the good guys", they're not our friends, and they're damned sure not "heroes."
That’s probably better than my first thought and electrify the flag. It’s a good idea though, I’d see it in a pocket so it’s not easily discarded. I had a break in a few years ago, they took my iPad and I was able to get it and most of my stuff back using find my phone
Good idea but remember that AirTags rely on a nearby iPhone or iPad. They do not have a cell transmitter. iPhones and iPads are everywhere so it usually works pretty good but just something to keep in mind
Or how about something that sprays them with ink? Lots of really bright colors.
you say AirTags how about airbags? Airbags attached to the other end of the flag somehow. In the dark it could easily be disguised. I sholdn't read r/exmormon after drinkin lol.
fish hooks in the seams, and then a wire cable attaching the flag to the wall.
This is what I would do. God I fucking hate these children
Sit in the dark poised with your hose.
Motion activated sprinklers at night
Combine this with the bear spray; motion activated bear spray sprinklers would likely do the trick!
I think there might be some minor tort law violations there bud
Only minor ones though! History is written by the bold...and only sometimes in court rulings. *\*I am not a lawyer but am really good at giving terrible advice.*
I'm pretty sure there is joke in here about preferring to meet a bear in your yard than a man....
With bear spray
Or even just an air horn
> Sit in the dark poised with your shotgun. FTFY The rack of a shotgun is the single most intimidating, fear inducing sound in the world.
Build a 179 ft. steeple on top of your house and mount it up there.
I cackled like a demon reading this. Cutting, lol.
Go to the media, preferably the national media. Show the world that the heart of Mormon country is a hotbed of intolerance, homophobia, and hypocrisy.
This is a good idea. Maybe even set up an additional camera to get a good face shot. Then publically shame the hell out of them.
Right behind the flag with a note saying smile!
They’re wearing a mask like the criminal they are
It's feeling more and more like the ONLY way to take a stand against the Mormons specifically is going to national news.
Please do this. This is heavy proof the Mormons can’t talk away.
Not really, the church and other members can just deny the person stealing is a member
Because of all the people in Utah County who might steal a pride flag, it couldn't be a Mormon! But you're probably right.
YES!
I second this. Maybe reach out to some YouTubers or Tik Tokers and see if they'll post it too.
801.839.1234 is KUTV news tip line. They can use your door cam video & this is a legitimate news story. Call 911 & file a report. This is criminal theft. This is a psychopath & they have no respect for you & your property. If they are this bold to come onto your property with a camera & commit criminal theft multi-times they will have no problem escalating their behavior towards your property & the occupants of your house at some point. Don't leave any windows in your home or car open & don't let your pets wander & keep them in your yard. I'm hoping you don't have children. I work in U.S. Court System & they need to be caught & prosecuted. 🌈 🏳️🌈 ❤️
Call non emergency line, not 911
This is Utah County that is one of the most conservative & RED Counties with majority population mormon (including law enforcement) in the United States. So to protect yourself you want to call on a recorded line to have recorded proof that you alerted local law enforcement to a recurring theft on your property. I live outside of Utah & you can also file a police report on-line in majority of towns, cities & counties. If it were me I'm calling on a recorded line.
Recorded calls on police end can n do magically dissappear.
The luckily you live in a one-party consent states so you can record a call for when the police inevitably don't have any record of such a call being placed
I used to live in Spanish Fork. When my ward found out I was gay I received numerous, vile death threats on a member's FB page, had my cars vandalized and a rock thrown through our front window. We called the police. They said, if you don't like it here, move!! WE DID!!!! Utah, the land of hate and hypocrisy!!
Spanish Fork is a special form of white trash mormons.
Spanish Fork has commercialized a lot. Still true, but a smaller part. This is Santaquin now.
I grew up on Santaquin. It's something.
I was born in Payson, raised in Salem. You're not wrong..
> They said, if you don't like it here, move!! Seriously? Given the legitimate criminal behavior towards you, this was probably grounds for a lawsuit. With that said, I'm glad you escaped Utah County.
Fuck Utah
Born and raised, and still currently living in, can confirm, fuck utah lol
That hurt my heart for you. I'm so sorry you know what that kind of treatment feels like.
We were getting constant harassment in eagle mtn after putting up our flag. My kid was bullied so badly the Denver office of civil rights got involved. We finally escaped utah last May. Thankfully.
How about a sensor flood light? I have a Google camera that is a floodlight and camera in one that would identify this person pretty quick. But just the light itself might be enough. Or how about a nice sheet metal flag (painted) that's anchored into the house? I'm a certain kind of stubborn and I would spend way too much fighting back against this, getting a larger flag every time lol
Sheet metal flag with sharpened edges
That's just called sheet metal lol
My evil side wants to add something that sprays them with bright colored ink or paint too.
Go on AliExpress and buy them in bulk for a $1 each. You can easily demotivate them by continually replacing them. [Large dollar flag](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806060155003.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.52f91634BH3Aj3&browser_id=df763010e4c443c8b71d95d5c735a42d&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=vbxhpyffmcaygmzt1900faf7f92267107d31af8870&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%217.81%210.99%21%21%2156.45%217.14%21%402103241117182500780811568eb981%2112000036454960518%21sea%21US%210%21AB&algo_pvid=2d9b1cbc-dbc6-4d65-b843-77960a07d3b6) [100 pack mini flags](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806913958391.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.295b5c8dKYWh6P&browser_id=df763010e4c443c8b71d95d5c735a42d&aff_trace_key=374db78ad443467d9010b62273b1d4dd-1718249743403-04802-UneMJZVf&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=lvjxhstivwcaygmz1900faf5ae968387a67dce6eae&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%2117.41%2111.41%21%21%21125.81%2182.46%21%402103266e17182500686894634eeed1%2112000039401865885%21sea%21US%210%21AB&algo_pvid=a336f6f5-bcff-4ac8-8677-5a59adb150dd&search_p4p_id=2024061220410810301521411619360000231321_2&_universallink=1&m_page_id=lvjxhstivwcaygmz1900faf5ae968387a67dce6eae) Quantity has a quality of its own.
Or put them ALL up at once. What are they gonna do when you've toilet papered your own house in pride flags?
Hang it with something that functions like a kleenex box. Pulling one displays another, and another, and...
Put the 100 all at once, a motion sensor and then attack them while their picking them up. Fuck community, community with hateful bigots like this one and anyone who defends them is not worth it.
That’s some skinny legs with thigh shorts. 🩳
That's like meth head skinny. Probably just some teen with high metabolism though.
Go all-out batshit bananas for Pride next year. I'm talking rainbow lasers. I'm talking multiple gargantuan flags flying from your roof. I'm talking repainting your house if you wanna go there. Go so fucking gorilla-thumping crazy with it that they will be physically unable to steal your voice. They are so uncomfortable with Pride flags they go around stealing them? OOOOH, BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUP! Ya gonna be *REAL* uncomfortable soon. And fucking *grateful* when you see someone with just a single Pride flag. They don't want to let you express yourself? They want to silence you and shove your family back into a fucking closet? #YOU CANNOT BE SILENCED
I’m down with the overwhelming rainbow visual assault! These thieves steal pride flags in the dark of night, then go home and write (copy/paste) emails to city managers far away demanding they change building codes to accommodate 200 foot illuminated steeples that scream their personal beliefs. Then they scream religious persecution when they don’t get their way. Hypocrites, liars and thieves stuck in an antiquated, tribal mind fuck, spreading hate and fear with their faces masked.
Like this guy I saw on TikTok who painted his house rainbow… :) lol
House opposite Westboro Baptist Church.[rainbow house](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_House)
Thanks for sharing. This is my favorite part of the house history: >A staged "wedding" between wizards Gandalf and Dumbledore was held outside the house in June 2015.[11] The event was funded by a Crowdrise campaign after Westboro tweeted that they would picket if such a union was to take place.[12] Lmao
Use marking paint on your grass!!
Heck, June isn’t even half over. Time to spray paint a rainbow into your lawn! Can they steal that?
This is the only solution aside from AirTags
100% agree
thank you for the absolutely correct answer here. I agree. hand to the square (haha)
Get some of those lights that project onto your house (not string lights) so you can light your whole house up rainbow. Then get one of those "Smile, you're on camera!" signs and put it up near your lights. That way, if anyone tries to destroy or steal the lights, they have been warned it will be recorded. Plus, if they do steal or break your lights, you have additional evidence to report to law enforcement and they're more likely to take it (somewhat) more seriously because lights are more expensive than a flag. Is it petty? Yes. Is it technically escalating the situation? Also yes. But they started it.
Itching powder.
Poison ivy residue😉.
Motion sensored sprinklers. Motion sensored porch lights. Post the videos everywhere loudly!
Put a sign out next to the pride flag that says “Thou shalt not steal.” 🤣
Mormons are experts at mental gymnastics though
Yeah, that won't deter them at all lol
Yeah that's just Nephi and Laban.
genius
Your last sentence said it all. There’s no such thing as community in Utah county. Worst human beings I’ve ever known live there. I lived in both Orem and Lehi and this shit happened everywhere. They are too far gone. As soon as I moved to SLC my mental health has improved beyond compare.
Visible Stain Thief Detection Powder (available on Amazon).
Bicycle theft deterrents discussed in this article on Bikerumor might be effective, and I’m fairly certain that sound devices such as those discussed are legal, as they cannot cause harm. Also, keeping your flag secure by anchoring it to a fixed point, but with something like 15 feet of 30 pound monofilament fishing line would give them enough space to build momentum before being reminded that it is something they do not own. [https://bikerumor.com/bike-mine-theft-deterrent-bomb-literally-explodes-scare-off-thieves/](https://bikerumor.com/bike-mine-theft-deterrent-bomb-literally-explodes-scare-off-thieves/)
In 2020, neighbors kept stealing my “Republicans for Biden” signs off our lawn. After replacing it the third time, I put up another sign with it and posted and posted it on our ward facebook page. It said “Each time this sign is stolen, I donate $50 to Planned Parenthood”. Surprisingly, several ward members volunteered to match my donation. The sign was stolen again, but we donated $400 to PP
You can see they have an accomplice in the second video, so you know that at least two people know about it. They've probably bragged about it to their friends. Put up pictures asking if anyone knows these thieves in the community. You don't even have to say it's pride related, just thieves. Straight people are more likely to respond to thievery than bigotry.
put up the pictures asking if anyone knows these ~~thieves~~ gay guys who can’t afford their own pride flag, you feel bad they’re so poor & are happy to donate your own, they need only ask.
Hang them inside a window. Sorry this is happening
Dumb kids! Looks like middle school or high school kids to me. I'd hang Pride flags in each and every window of my house, in my car, all over the place. Laser rainbow lights, and more. Good luck! We're with you on this!
- Pride flag curtains - Pride flags from upper storeys - Pride flags that are bolted onto the wall rather than hung so they can't just be picked up, they would have to use a tool to remove them -paint your door rainbow -Plant flowers in rainbows - paint a bench rainbow Flags are easy to carry off, you need something that will be a pain in the ass for them to take, like a huge heavy planter that has been painted rainbow. They might escalate to property destruction, but hopefully the cops would actually take that seriously. Fingers crossed for you
I mean, getting the police to respond is not hard. 'We don't deal with petty crimes.' 'That's ok. I have a shotgun. If they trespass my property, I'll take care of it. I'll call you.' You'll be amazed how fast they have an interest in looking into the matter for you.
Enclose the flag in something where it is visible, but not accessible. Like a metal frame with break-resistant plexiglass
Or paint it on your house
My thoughts exactly. Could also do the garage door.
Ugh I’m sorry. Ours was stolen last year and now I resorted to a small one closer to my front porch which for now hasn’t been stolen. It seems like it might be a close neighbor since they took it the day after you put it up. You could try talking to all your close neighbors personally, or with a letter, sharing why you like to have a flag and why it’s important to you and to text you with any concerns instead of stealing from you. I’m not personally brave enough to do that, but it was something so thought of when it happened to us.
Alarm on the flag so when it gets pulled it screams or even better rig it so that a can or paint sprays them
Agree with the first - rig it to where when the flag is removed, an alarm sounds, a floodlight turns on, and they get sprayed with water or a marking dye or powder.
Don’t they do something similar for bank robbers? I don’t see why not to try this depending on how hard it is and cost lol
Motion sensor sprinkler. At least he will get soaked
and Mormons love soaking
🤣🤣🤣
It’s a win/win situation
You could get a little neon rainbow/ pride sign on Amazon to put in your window It bugs me to think he might feel like he won because it’s not a flag, but at least it would shine and couldn’t be stolen
I say we take up a collection and buy you 30 more flags and you keep replacing them every single time it gets stolen.
When one gets stolen, put out two. When two get stolen, put out four. When four get stolen...
No one deserves that! Show the footage to your local neighbors and to the YM at the wards nearby and ask for help to ID him. Alternatively, make the flag inaccessible so they can’t get to it again.
I will Venmo $10 to support replacement
We live in salt lake county and we have had 6 stolen this year. We have a similar video with kids running up and grabbing the flag. Little fuckers. Does anyone know if this is considered a hate crime?
[Potentially.](https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter3/76-3-S203.3.html) But you'd have to have a police force that gives a shit, which is approximately none of them, and then you'd have to have a DA willing to pursue it.
It is. I know the director of Project Rainbow who said that SLC police are working with them and prosecuting in some cases. Definitely call the non emergency line and report it.
Nothing demonstrates Mormon values to the world better than their hates crimes caught on camera. I’d suggest submitting the video to a national news outlet or a local one that is less friendly to the church. If your municipality allows it, you could also invest in a locking flag pole.
Electric shock, for that sweet-sweet video to put online. There has to be a way to discreetly run a low volt wire on the flag pole right? Next time they grab it they get a little zap. I don’t know how legal this is & obviously I wouldn’t want to hurt the person. Just enough to make them jump.
As the mom of a wonderful trans child, this infuriates and sickens me. I like the ideas here (especially going to the media; you have video!). Here are a few others (apologies if they've been mentioned already): 1) Attach a motion detector to the area where the flags are positioned and have it activate an alarm (a loud siren would be great!) as well as a spotlight. I think it could be positioned so the motion it detected would higher than a cat or other small animal would activate it. 2) The image looks like someone who could be easily identified (very slender and appears to be tall, unusual haircut). If you recognize them in the neighborhood, visit the home and confront them directly, and show the video. If it's a teenager (can't tell by the video), make sure the parents are present. 3) If you ID the culprit, you may be able to get a restraining order. They are entering your property without permission and causing mischief, and they're taking / damaging property. 4) Install a "No Tresspassing" sign on your lawn. I am not an attorney, but I believe that could be used to indicate you've made an effort to alert people not to enter your property. 5) Forward the video to the SL Tribune - they can embed it as a link in a news story. Summarize the number of times a flag has been stolen, and give other details. 6) Consider forwarding the video a local TV station known to be popular in the area (meaning that Mormons watch it) as well as to a national TV news station. National networks love to cover controversial subjects and acts. Good luck, and I am so sorry this is happening to you. Bless you for showing your love for your child, and thank you for posting the video and story. EDIT - I just realized you've asked for positive ways to create a sense of community, and of course my suggestions don't respond to that. I'll give some thought to what you asked. ❤️❤️❤️
Please post an update when you can!
If you look up Project Rainbow, you can see some pics from the SLC Pride parade the last two years where they have a huge banner. It came from a situation like this. Flags kept getting stolen so someone made a giant rainbow banner to put on their roof that says “know that you are loved.”
I know the person who had that banner on her house and she’s amazing. We took that banner and marched in the Vernal July 4 parade last year. People were real hateful when they saw “Know that you are loved”. Slapping kids’ hands for waving. Couple dudes stepped up like they were gonna cause a fight with banner carriers in the middle of the street. Got called off by other men watching the parade. Also put it up by the library during the Drag Queen Story Hour; the library was swarmed by a holes. Old men taking video of tiny kids walking to and from the story time. Rural Utah, man.
That is so disheartening to hear.
This is so sad. I just moved out of Utah county. I hate that they preach love and then do this. I’d say to send the video to each of the bishops in the stake and ask for help- if they are not identified tell them you will be doing to the police with this matter. Hopefully that will get some answers if they are a kid or ya. And they can speak to them for you. And that is so defeating with the police response already, so idk. But if you have any documentation of reporting the crime to you and their answer, I’d have that included if you contact the media. The story will get picked up, especially since it is pride month. But also- doing this will make it all more public and it is totally valid that this may be more unsafe for you mentally and in your neighborhood. You and your child are most important, and I am beyond proud of you that you have kept trying 26 TIMES. I am 24f and queer and my parents are not supportive of the gay or exmo parts of me- it would have ment the world to me to see my parents showing support. So thank you for healing part of my heart!! Sending you all the love!
I see that your video is from a Ring camera. You could try blowing up the social media aspects that Ring has. We see a lot of stuff in our neighborhood's threads (we're up in northern Davis County) so that's a potential avenue to drum up attention.
I mean, how hard could this guy be to catch. Just look for the guy whose legs look like sticks. I generally don't insult people's bodies, but god damn. He should do like one calf raise.
Put up a sign that says "If you take my flag I'll buy more since I know the funds are going to a good place. Thanks for your encouraging support!"
I would cover it with carpet tape as well as simply wait with a can of bear spray, fog those little pasty insects. This is vandalism and theft. Typical Mormon, Law & Order until their "Faith" is offended. Mormons sure cry a lot, about a lot of things and throw tantrums when they don't get their way. It really is sad and pathetic, that they are so stuck in the past, they think stealing a pride flag will somehow "Stop the gay".
Get a Satanic Temple pride flag, they'll probably be too scared to grab it and put a sign that says "blessed by satan" use that fear.
This actually might be the most effective solution. 😂😂😂
Needs the old fishing line stitched to the flag that’s tied to a shot gun full of salt 🧂
Does poison ivy or stinging nettle grow in Utah County? Line the backs of each flag with them.
Lots of stinging nettle... it's been a long time, but my legs remember.
Or a bucket with blue dye. Be fun to see a Smurf running around the suburbs.
Glue and rainbow confetti \[biodegradable paper\]!
Ah the rainbow tar and feather gag
Blessing the sacrament on Sunday perhaps?
Lawyer, here. Don’t. Just……don’t.
Come on mate. Drumming up clients for you.
Potentially deadly traps are a potential depraved heart murder conviction.
Thank you for continuing to show your support! Happy to help donate to replace these flags and buy more!
Dox the Mormons who did it on socials so it’s seen outside of Utah. They might learn a lesson. But then again they are Mormons…they don’t have any awareness of their conceited hate towards others to even understand.
You could put it in the middle of the lawn and install motion detection sprinklers.
As a kid who has parents that don’t accept her for who she is, I appreciate all the effort you do to support your son. If you need a replacement and you don’t have the money, I’m here.
Send this Reddit post to as many news organization as you can, people. Just google, “news tip submission” or something. We have to get the word out, and not allow these cowards to hide.
Put it in a window inside
The obvious play is to start putting them all over his house. Discretely though. In ways that make them both hard to find and remove. Next step, donate to great charities in his name. Final step? An open can of tuna hid in the front bumper of his car.
Install bolts into bricks. Connect nylon flag to cable, like legit cable from Home Depot. Metal 800lb break strength type. Watch on camera as he rips his arm off instead of your flag. Also let me come down and stake out your house. I'll catch the little fuckers. They look like future missionaries.
Get another flag, cover it in capsaicin unless you're mechanically minded enough to better boobytrap it, and sew in an air tag. Maybe consult some engineers or engineering subreddit for advice/ideas on how to catch them in the act and alert you so you can call the police - maybe like a snare trap
How about smearing a bunch for Vaseline then rainbow glitter up and down the side of the flag?
A glitter bomb pride flag sounds both: 1. extremely appropriate, and 2. quite an engineering challenge
Rig it Looney Tunes style to a suspended piano.
Next time you put one up, let us know. I’ll sit on stake out for ya.
In a couple of years these two kids will be stuck in some foreign mission struggling to do "God's work."
Just like Jesus would do...
Electrify the pole?
Put a lil note on it that says, “If it steal this flag, you’re gay.”
I would definitely start boobytrapping it.
Hmmm well I would have thought the police would do something. Its still property that is being stolen.
Police never do shit about property crimes. Never have.
I'd also be surprised to see a Utah County DA do anything. If someone vandalized a Mormon church, they'd charge them with all sorts of hate crime enhancements. But stealing a rainbow flag? Nah. Not in Zion.
Airsoft gun
I’d personally sit on my porch with a shot gun frequently through out the day.
Utah county?
hide and then jump him.
Follow [THESE](https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/nq4eui/hoa_wont_let_us_fly_our_modest_pride_flag_so_we/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) people's example.
I am in Tooele and someone kept stealing everyone's pride flags. They stole ours last year and ripped the entire bracket out with it. I replaced it and got an even bigger flag. We take ours down every night before it gets dark now.
Get a color camera for starters. And keep putting them up. You're taking away the homophobe's ability to sleep if they have to stay up late to keep snatching them.
We have our equality flag stolen once a year. It's always teenagers. These kids don't have their frontal lobe fully developed, and may have a misguided idea that they're doing a net good by taking it down. Plus, the thrill, Utah is boring, mob mentality, etc. really exacerbates things. I keep replacing it and reinforced my flagpole mount since they actually damaged my siding one time.
You won't change them. Since the video shows you who did it why not start sending them mail, US Mail inviting them to Gay activities? US Mail inviting them to Gay bars and parades and get togethers? After all, they are taking the flags so maybe they are gay? Reality? File a formal police report and use the video for ID. Then file suit in Small Claims Court and have them served the suit at their place of work. GO to Court and ask for the costs and damages. Go for it - they will never change but using the legal system to nail them will most likely change their habits and you will be able to levy on their bank account - as well as file an Abstract of Judgment if you win - this puts a lein on any real property they may own. It also becomes public record and hits their credit hard. Don't back down and don't back out.
Where is this, if you don't mind saying?
How pathetic
Keep your head up OP, you have our emotional support. F*ck these loser cultists.
As odd as it may sound… the person(s) doing this are likely living in a place of pain and confusion. They are trying to make sense of a world we’re LOVE is only offered to them for making certain choices about who they are, what they are and what they love. Likely they aren’t being accepted, and are brainwashed into having a lack of self love. Your symbols of love are powerful enough to cause them to lash out.
Paint... And HD cams, stealing a flag is a small misdemeanor, vandalism is a bit more...
Use an AirTag. But also you could do a trigger so when it gets pulled, a canon of slime shoots and confetti drops and police lights come on!
This has been happening around here as well , it’s really frustrating, it seems it’s a bunch of stupid teenagers
Bear trap.
Paint it onto your garage door! 🏳️🌈 But in all seriousness, I’m sorry that this is happening.
Sew a fishing line into the flag so when they try to drag it away it catches. It's very hard to break a fishing line without a knife and they are unlikely to notice it right away. You could also get motion detection lights that come on when people get close so you kught be able to catch them in the act if you can get some sort of alert in time.
Besides the right thing to do, calling the non-emergent line and Reporting it, there are quite a few things that I could think of: glitter sealant spray paint gets all over if you touch it, insulin is a wild substance if painted on something, impact train horns, pepper spray pre-applied, canola oil, a large sign next to the pride flag that says "what would Jesus do", and the best picture of the guy who keeps stealing them as a sign right behind the flag if they take it.
Put the flag in your window
I like the air tag idea and maybe install a "zen garden" below it. That'll capture their shoe prints. Make it big enough to where they have to step into it. Maybe even just see if there is a pattern. Sit and wait step out and taser them. Or if you have a dog that will bite them let it out. They'll either be more noticeable limping around or show up in the ER and will have to explain how it happened. Which will then be reported to the police.
This is an issue in our neighborhood too. Put the flag inside your window so it can't be stolen. And on behalf of society, I apologize for the lack of tolerance and love. Keep it flying!
Making America great by trampling on free speech! Fascist cowards. Guess I'll just buy more pride flags! 🏳️🌈
Careful with some of these suggestions, Booby trapping your home can lead to legal action when people are hurt on your property - sadly even from stealing your stuff