BELLINGHAM - Anyone who drove by Fairhaven Middle School early Friday morning, Feb. 8, may have noticed that a controversial "no trespassing" sign at a construction site across the street was missing.

But it wasn't gone for good.

The sign, which warns thieves that four guns that could be on site at any given time, was stolen sometime between 10 p.m. Thursday and about 6:45 a.m. Friday, said Elliott Fine. Fine owns the home under construction at 95 Hawthorn Road and said he originally put up the sign in December after having about $400 in materials stolen from the construction site.

The sign had caused some concern from a few parents and students at the school. The Bellingham Herald published a story about it earlier this week.

Fine said he'd already replaced the sign by mid-morning Friday but declined to comment further.

Reach ZOE FRALEY at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803.