Ford Place and Holden Place have been stolen so many times that Territory and Municipal Services has given up on replacing them in any conventional sense.

Instead the Holden Place has been stenciled into the concrete kerb so residents, visitors and pizza deliverers don’t get lost, while there are plans to do the same for Ford Place in the near future.

In 2011-12 some 4432 signs were replaced or repaired at a total cost of $523,437 and a similar figure was expected for 2012-13.

The ACT government estimates about 300 signs are stolen each year.

In 2011 and 2012 more than 100 park and road signs were vandalized by graffiti with some being hit on several occasions.

“We estimate the Cook suburb sign has been replaced approximately 10 times since it was upgraded from timber to reflective metal [about five years ago],’’ a TAMS spokeswoman said.

The Cook sign regularly gets part of the second ‘o’ scratched out to leave the suburb with a less flattering moniker.

Neighbouring suburb Aranda – which is spelled out in capitals – tends to get the ‘R’ changed to a ‘P’ with vandals also adding a stencil or sticker of a panda bear to clarify meaning for passing motorists.

Meanwhile a stop sign in O’Connor was changed to “Stop collaborate and listen’’ with a stencil of ‘80s retro rap icon Vanilla Ice accompanying the alteration, while a another stop sign in Ainslie was changed to “Stop Hammer time” and a third at the corner of Majura Road and Horsepark Drive has been changed to "Stop Voldermort".

In Macquarie creative street sign bombers have changed one of the give way signs to read “Give Way to love’’.

Some less offensive street sign alterations have remained in suburbs for years. But where vandals have displayed a penchant for more destructive or unsavoury work, the signs appear to be replaced more promptly.

A TAMS spokeswoman emphasised their figures did not distinguish between general damage to signs caused in car accidents and vandalised signs.

“Vandalised signs are estimated to make up only a small proportion of the damage,’’ the spokeswoman said.

What's your favourite street sign alteration? Let us know in the comments.