With Election Day just days away, a Capistrano Unified School District candidate is facing questions after an AirTag her opponent placed on one of his campaign signs tracked it to her home.
The candidate is Melissa Caldwell, a challenger in the bid for CUSD’s Area 4 seat. Her opponent, Marco Carralero, says an AirTag on one of his stolen signs led to a Laguna Niguel address that, according to the voter file, corresponds with Caldwell’s home. California Penal Code § 488 designates sign stealing as a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to six months and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
After noticing a pattern of campaign signs being defaced, kicked over, and disappearing throughout the campaign, Carralero decided to place Apple AirTags on a select few to track them if removed. We reached out to Carralero and he confirmed the three tagged materials consisted of two large banners and one yard sign, the latter of which was placed at the intersection of Golden Lantern and Shark Bay in Laguna Niguel on Tuesday, October 20.
Around 6:45 or 7:00 PM, while canvasing, Carralero checked on the location of the tagged signs and discovered that the two banners were actively in motion, while the yard sign was located at residential address in Laguna Niguel. When cross-checked against the voter file, this address allegedly corresponds with Melissa Caldwell’s home.
Later in the evening, the sign appears to have moved to a neighbor’s house, or possibly a trash can further down the street.
At 8:00 AM the following morning, Carralero received yet another notification. This time, the location came from the Prima Deshecha landfill, possibly suggesting the sign had then been picked up by a trash collector and deposited at the dump.
Carralero tells us he filed a police report then spoke to dispatched officers later that day—as well as the following day—providing screenshots, timestamps, and other information to back up his claim. SoCal Daily Pulse has also reviewed screenshots and timestamps provided by Carralero but will not independently comment on an ongoing case or publish identifying details about Caldwell’s residence.
“They’ve been engaging in dirty tricks throughout the duration of the campaign,” Carralero told SoCal Daily Pulse. “I have been observing my signs going missing and being defaced and kicked over throughout town; I’ve had my sign stolen from a friend’s yard; and this is just sort of proving something was going on.”
Carralero acknowledged that the thief may not be Caldwell herself, but he suspects it is someone close to her, such as a family member or neighbor.
“It’s the cardinal sin of local political campaigns: don’t touch the other person’s yard signs,” Carralero told SoCal Daily Pulse. “Someone who’s willing to engage in these tactics is not to be trusted in a governing position.”
In a social media post published Saturday morning, Carralero tagged Caldwell and asked for an explanation.
“@melissaforcusd: Can you clarify why my campaign sign wound up at your home?” Carralero asked.
We reached out to Caldwell for comment and did not receive a response.
Across the last few years, there have been several notable instances of sign stealing in Orange County races. In 2024, digital trackers were used to locate dozens of stolen signs supporting conservative causes and candidates, including Crystal Miles for State Senate, Don Wagner for OC Supervisor, and 19 opposing the recall against Orange Unified School District Trustees Rick Ledesma and Madison Miner. Three activists were arrested by police for their role in the theft.
Similarly, back in 2018, Paulette Chaffee—wife of Supervisor Doug Chaffee—was caught on video stealing signs when she was running for Fullerton City Council. She pleaded guilty to two theft counts and lost not only the 2018 City Council race, but also two bids for Orange County Board of Education in 2020 and 2022. She is again running in 2026, along with three others, for North Orange County Community College District’s 6th District seat. She has yet to hold public office.
Both examples suggest that, in Orange County, law enforcement and voters alike take sign stealing—alleged or otherwise—seriously.
This is a developing story. SoCal Daily Pulse will provide updates as new information becomes available.
