SEATTLE -- Police are investigating a case of alleged assault stemming from the theft of campaign signs in Seattle's Laurelhurt neighborhood, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

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Video: Stolen Campaign Signs, Short Fuses

Political signs for both Republican and Democratic candidates have been stolen and vandalized repeatedly, said people who live in the area.

"Friday morning, we heard a loud bang and a few minutes later we saw that somebody clearly run up on the parking strip and run over the Kerry sign," said one resident, who didn't want to be identified.

In one case, an alleged sign thief became violent.

Workers at the Talaris World Conference Center took action when they saw someone on surveillance camera video taking their signs, which support Republican candidates. They confronted the woman, who allegedly attacked one of them.

"The suspect became angry and struck the victim over the head with a green plastic three-foot-long ball throwing device, in addition to pushing him with his finger in the chest," said Sean Whitcomb of the Seattle Police Department.

Authorities are investigating this case as an assault and they have taken the dog toy and the incriminating pictures as evidence.

The worker followed the woman to a nearby house with a Kerry sticker in the window, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.