Two Long Beach city employees are accused of stealing road signs from the city's sign shop and selling them as scrap metal.

Police say Thomas O'Brien, 26, allegedly sold more than 300 pounds of the city's aluminum signs. Ivan Maxwell, 28, is accused of aiding O'Brien in the scheme. Both Long Beach men were arrested this week.

Officials say the two worked at the city's sign shop and were in charge of installing road signs throughout the city. Authorities say they took signs to a local scrap yard for cash and were paid $171 in total.

The men are accused of using a city truck while they were on the clock and were charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

They will appear in Long Beach City Court on Jan. 31.