TROY, New York — Uncle Sam doesn't want this guy.
Police have charged a 22-year-old man with vandalizing one of the 30 Uncle Sam statues that were installed throughout the city of Troy earlier this spring.
Troy is considered the home of Uncle Sam because the iconic symbol for the United States was based on an actual businessman from the area who sold supplies to the government during the War of 1812. Artists were invited earlier this year to decorate the Uncle Sam statues, which have been set up to attract people to Troy businesses.
Police tell local media that a man from neighboring Watervliet (wah-ter-vuh-LEET') tried to steal one of the statues early Sunday. The statue fell on him, losing its head in the process. The would-be thief was caught a short time later.
