A woman in athletic wear with visible tattoos was captured on surveillance footage removing a Spencer Pratt mayoral campaign sign from a front yard in Studio City, Los Angeles. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a 65-year-old homeowner reviewed his security camera and observed two young females pulling the sign from his property and walking away with it.
Homeowner Reports Theft
In a police report, the resident stated, 'I uploaded a still and I have clearer video at home. I do not recognize these persons, they do not live on my street and I have never seen them in the area before.' The footage, later shared online by journalist Daniel Guss, shows a woman calmly approaching the driveway, sliding the sign under her arm, and uprooting it before carrying it off, followed by another woman.
Online Sleuths Mobilize
The video quickly went viral, with social media users dubbing the suspect a 'Pilfering Karen' and attempting to identify her from screenshots. Guss wrote on X, 'Okay internet! Sleuth away!' He highlighted a prominent tattoo on the woman's left arm, which became a key identifier. One commenter said, 'I live in this area. I'll keep an eye out,' while another suggested sending the footage to the Pratt campaign for use in a commercial.
Guss noted that private citizens are generally not allowed to remove campaign signs, even if they believe they violate local placement rules. 'Even if the signs had been on public property in a restricted right-of-way in violation of local municipal codes, they can only be removed by authorized city or county officials, not by private citizens,' he explained.
Pratt's Rising Political Profile
The sign theft comes as Spencer Pratt, former reality TV star turned mayoral candidate, gains momentum in the race against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and councilmember Nithya Raman. An Emerson College poll showed Bass leading with 30 percent, Pratt at 22 percent, and Raman at 19 percent, potentially heading to a November runoff. Pratt has framed his campaign around Los Angeles' disorder and crime, citing personal experiences including death threats during his reality TV fame and the loss of his home in the Palisades Fire.
In a recent interview, Pratt revealed he obtained a concealed carry permit after receiving death threats. 'When I was a hated reality star I got so many death threats... Get a gun. This is real. I know people don't like guns, but LA is dangerous if you're hated. So, I got a gun. My wife got a gun,' he said.
No Arrests Made
Neither Bass nor Raman commented on the incident, and authorities have not announced any arrests. The theft remains under investigation.
