GRIFFITH PARK—The iconic Hollywood sign was altered to read “Hollyweed” on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2017.
A prankster managed to change the sign, said Sgt. Guy Juneau of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Security Services Division.
An unidentified man used tarps to change the ‘O’s’ in the sign to ‘E’s.’
“It now reads ‘WEED’, [The prankster] escaped, but was captured on security video footage,” Juneau said.
Around 3:00 a.m. security footage captured a “lone individual” climbing Mount Lee and scaling the 45-foot-tall letters and hanging tarpaulins over the O’s.
The surveillance footage showed a man dressed in black tactical-style gear. One of the tarpaulins was decorated with a peace sign, and another with a heart.
The Hollywood sign is open to the public through a road accessible to the public by foot and by vehicle behind the sign.
Authorities believe the suspect came from behind the sign to make the adjustment.
“It’s thrill-seekers, looking for media attention,” Sgt. Juneau said. “It’s L.A., part of our L.A.-crazy.”
Around 10:45 a.m. the tarps were removed and the iconic sign once again read ‘Hollywood.’
Authorities are investigating the incident and the unidentified man on video could face misdemeanor trespassing charges when arrested.
The Hollywood sign was erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a housing development and originally read “Hollywood Land.” Over the years, the Hollywood sign as been altered or vandalize to read ‘Cal Tech,’ ‘Save the Peak,’ ‘Holywood,’ and ‘Perotwood.’
