LBPD arrests two workers for allegedly stealing street signs

Long Beach police arrested two city workers after they allegedly stole more than 300 pounds of aluminum signs and sold the material to a local scrap yard.

On Wednesday, police said that Thomas O’Brien, 26, and Ivan Maxwell, 28, were charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor. Both men were fired and are due to appear in Long Beach City Court on Jan. 31, police said.

Maxwell and O'Brien were employed in the city’s sign shop, and were allegedly paid $171 for 323 pounds of aluminum signs by a local salvage yard for the street and roadway signs owned by the city.

“These two employees abused the taxpayers’ trust by stealing city property,” City Manager Jack Schnirman said in a statement. “This type of behavior will never be tolerated, and the two employees have been fired.”

Police began investigating the men after they received a tip, according to Police Commissioner Michael Tangney. The investigation into the incident, along with other missing city property, is ongoing and Tangney said that more arrests are expected.