The Devil's in the Detour

From the Baltimore Sun, via AP, an ominous revelation: "'666' Road Sign Thefts Bedevilling Roadways All Across the Country":

It's been happening all over the country, particularly on roads with names like Route 666. Officials aren't sure if the thefts are being committed by religious zealots upset about the number's association in the Bible with the devil, by Satanic scavenger hunters, or by college students who think a '666' sign would look cool in their dorm room.

Um ... the smart money is on the latter.



Moreover:

A few years ago, highway officials in Morris County couldn't keep signs for Route 666 on the poles; as quickly as crews put them up, someone would take them down and steal them, often within a day or two.Solution: They changed the name of the road to Route 665. A similar tactic might be in store for the Parkway and Turnpike mile markers, with replacement signs reading 66.61, which kind of wrecks the Satanic buzz.

Ah yes. Satanic buzz-kill. Indeed.