Police alerted after John Pesutto’s election signs stolen in Hawthorn

Complaints have been lodged with police after a string of John Pesutto’s election signs were stolen in Hawthorn.

Police complaints have been lodged over a spate of election sign thefts across the electorate of Hawthorn.

Former Liberal MP John Pesutto is vying to win the seat back after losing it in a shock defeat to the ALP’s John Kennedy in 2018.

The seat is being recontested by Mr Kennedy, and teal candidate Melissa Lowe.

The Herald Sun has confirmed several police complaints have been lodged after a string of Mr Pesutto’s election signs were stolen.

One theft was captured in CCTV, with police now examining the footage.

A phone booth displaying a poster of Mr Pesutto was also vandalised.

In a statement posted to social media on Tuesday Mr Kennedy condemned the stealing of the election signs.

A vandalised phone booth displaying a poster of John Pesutto.

The son of Hawthorn MP John Kennedy mocks Mr Pesutto on Twitter.

“I condemn the individuals who have defaced and stolen corflutes and election material in Hawthorn,” he said.

“This campaign should be about competing visions for our area, not petty politics.”

His statement came as his son, Patrick, posted a now deleted tweet mocking Mr Pesutto.

It comes amid concerns over new telephone push polling being conducted across the Hawthorn electorate.

The poll, which attacks Mr Pesutto, is being conducted by Community Engagement Ltd.

The Herald Sun revealed last month the same firm was behind a Labor-funded online survey which spruiked Premier Daniel Andrews while lambasting Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

The survey, which offered swing voters $5 gift cards to take part, is being investigated by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

But senior party sources denied any Labor involvement in the phone push polling being rolled out across the Hawthorn electorate.