Lavender By the Bay's main sign stolen

The owners of Lavender By the Bay said the North Fork farm's main sign was stolen early Friday and they are asking for its return.

“We woke up to this disappointing sight,” the owners of the East Marion lavender farm posted on Facebook and Instagram with a photo of the missing sign. “Don’t worry, that’s not going to stop us from having a great holiday weekend to cap off a wonderful summer.”

Lavender By the Bay has become famous on social media in recent years. Its Instagram account boasts 14,200 followers and thousands of tourists from around the world flock to its fields during peak bloom for lush photos.

The farm has struggled with tourist buses and overcrowding, but peak bloom ended in July, and co-owner Chanan Rozenbaum said theft hadn’t previously been a problem.

“This is a first,” he said.

The sign sat on Route 25 to mark the farm’s entrance. Rozenbaum said the sign had been up since 2004 and cost several thousand of dollars. Security cameras captured the theft and the footage was turned over to Southold police.

The department said no one was available to comment Saturday.

Rozenbaum said the footage showed two men approaching the sign just after midnight. They unscrewed the bolts holding it in place and then walked east with it, he said. The sign was about 3 feet tall and 72 inches wide and it was handmade out of wood.

Rozenbaum said their Facebook post about the theft has earned them support from the community, but hasn’t netted any tips yet. Those with information about the sign are asked to contact Southold police.

“At the end of the day, it’s unfortunate," he said, "but haters are going to hate and lavender lovers are going to love."