VERGENNES — Earlier this month, members of the Vergennes Police Department secured an American flag to replace one that was stolen from a city family’s South Maple Street home. The flag honored a member of the family who was a Purple Heart veteran and who had taken his own life.

Sadly, another flag was recently stolen from another South Maple Street home. Flag theft is technically petty, theft of property valued at $900 or less; small flags that fly on homes can be replaced for as little as $20-$40.

But it’s a crime that not only upsets, but also baffles the police officers who brought the flag to the family. Sgt. Adam O’Neill and Officer Mark Stacey. They just can’t fathom why anyone would snatch a flag.

“I don’t understand the reasoning behind it,” O’Neill said, adding, “I just don’t see any motive for stealing an American flag off someone’s porch.”

Stacey wondered how anyone could feel patriotic displaying an illegally obtained version of Old Glory.

“How do you fly a stolen flag?” he said.

The officers were also asked a theoretical question about the more recent theft: What if someone decided to call Vergennes police at 802-877-2201 and say they had somehow found an American flag and wanted to turn it in, with no questions asked?

“It would be the right thing to do,” O’Neill said. “The more important thing, and I know that’s just one incident, is just don’t do it.”