Kat Bennett had bolstered the cable ties on her $70 placards from eight to 18 after five were stolen earlier this month.

But on Tuesday night, while she attended a candidates’ forum, the last four on fences were stolen from near the water tower roundabout, Lawrence Street, Beechworth Road and White Box Rise.

“I really can’t believe somebody is so desperately wanting to take my face down, I feel they should get a life,” Ms Bennett said.

“I can’t help but think it was preplanned, knowing that me and my family would be at the ratepayers’ meeting.”

Ms Bennett said she had reported the thefts to police.

The Gateway Health promotions co-ordinator has only one poster left and she placed it atop her home on Wednesday to stop it disappearing.

Fellow council candidate Alison Reed has also fallen victim to troublemakers.

On Tuesday night one of her posters at the water tower roundabout was stolen and another on a fence in Melrose Drive near the baptist church was torched.

“I was expecting a moustache or some boogers to be drawn on them, but this is theft and arson,” Mrs Reed said.

She had put up 10 posters across Wodonga with four cable ties each.

While Ms Bennett and Mrs Reed’s posters at the water tower roundabout were stolen, a nearby banner for candidate Adam Koster remained untouched.

Mr Koster expressed sympathy for his rivals.

“It’s really quite concerning to hear and is distressing, because I know the kind of work and money you into these things,” he said.

“You put yourself out on a limb and this happens, it’s quite horrible.”

The Liberal Party member dismissed the suggestion the thefts may have been politically motivated.