When Domenico Santino DiPasquale was entering his family’s Italian marketplace early Thursday in Highlandtown, he noticed something was amiss.

He realized that the iconic DiPasquale’s sign was gone from the front of the building. He immediately called his father and the owner, Joe DiPasquale. Domenico then checked security cameras from the market and a neighbor’s house to see if he could identify who stole the sign, which is valued at between $1,000 and $2,000.

Domenico only saw a solo figure taking the sign. The neighborhood is now compiling more videos from other security cameras to see if they can detect a getaway car or more suspects.

“What we are wondering is just why?” Domenico said in a phone interview. “What’s the point?”

He wants to find the sign. But, in the meantime, he plans to talk to someone to recreate it for the business’s original location on Gough Street. He posted images on social media in the hope that someone would help get the sign back.

“I bet everyone is going to come together to find this thing,” Domenico said.

DiPasquale’s has been in business in Baltimore since 1914. In addition to Highlandtown, the market has three other locations in Brewer’s Hill, in Harborview and at Mastellone Deli & Wine Shop on Harford Road.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com.