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White Plains Man Arrested for Anti-fasny Sign Theft

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Police announced the arrest of a White Plains man Thursday whom they believe is responsible for the theft of dozens of signs criticizing the French-American School of New York's (FASNY) proposal to build a school on the grounds of the former Ridgeway Country Club. 

Daniel Mosca, 42, of 10 Bryant Crescent, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with one count of petty larceny, a misdemeanor, and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, also a misdemeanor.

Lt. Eric Fischer, who commands the detective unit, said police found two anti-FASNY signs on Mosca, and were unsure exactly how many were stolen from Ridgeway, Hathaway and Gedney Esplanade lawns early Saturday morning.

Fischer said the theft was not politically motivated, stressing that Mosca did not work for FASNY or have an opinion on the private school's proposed $60 million campus.

"He thought he was cleaning up the neighborhood. He didn't really like the way it looked," Fischer said of the "Stop FASNY Now!" and "FASNO" signs lining local lawns. "It was nothing political. There were no ramifications related to the French School. He's not affiliated with them or against them."

Gedney Association President Terence Guerriere estimated that 30 signs were stolen from lawns at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday. He said the neighborhood reported another 20 or so lawn signs were taken sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

"It's frustrating. It's obviously a distraction from the real issue and it's somewhat discouraging that now we have to be concerned about people coming onto our property and our neighbors properties and taking signs," Guerriere said after the second round of signs were stolen.

Fischer said police didn't receive a formal phone call or complaint regarding the second anti-FASNY sign stealing spree.

The Gedney community believes the same person was responsible for all of the sign thefts because an identical car was seen in the neighborhood Saturday morning and Tuesday night.

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