The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Unusual Craigslist Posting Startles Man

June 06, 2011 - Mexico — A candidate for the world's dumbest crook.

That was the first thought that crossed Gary Coffin's mind at 5:30 a.m. Thursday when he ran across a peculiar Craigslist classified.

The Craigslist posting that immediately caught the 60-year-old Mexico man's attention stated "Open for Business" road sign-$1,300 (York). Coffin, captivated with the classified, continued to read the June 2 ad descriptor, "Open for Business" road sign "commandeered from I-95. Like new condition, however, it's not working. Asking $1,300 or will trade for job with livable wage."

The classified posting included the photograph of the 4- by 8-foot sign, at the time of the March 18 unveiling, and a reply email address of the seller.

Meanwhile, a group of businessmen in the rock and gravel industries has ponied up $1,500 to buy a new "Open for Business" sign.

The Craigslist classified Coffin stumbled upon was likely the "Open for Business" sign that Gov. Paul LePage, R-Maine, had unveiled beneath the "Welcome to Maine" sign along the Maine Turnpike in Kittery on March 18, which had been stolen Wednesday.

"I was moseying around on my computer early this morning, as I usually do while my wife sleeps," Coffin said, "when I came across the classified.

"I had heard about the theft of the sign," he said, "and thought this is weird. This must be one of the stupidest crooks in the world if they are trying to sell it on Craigslist."

"The Craig's Listing was probably bogus," Stephen McCausland, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman, said Thursday afternoon. "State police have received a few leads on the sign and are following up."

Leads or no leads, the governor's office wasn't happy.

"It is very unfortunate that the sign was stolen," Adrienne Bennett, spokesperson for LePage said Thursday afternoon.

"The sign's message conveys the main priority of Gov. Paul LePage to create more jobs and to make the state more business-friendly," Bennett said.

The Craigslist posting disappeared by noon Thursday. Efforts to reach the Craigslist sign seller have been unsuccessful.


Dan Fayen, Sun Journal, June 2011


Lakes:
Regions:


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News