2 dozen traffic signs stolen in Pa.

Police in western Pennsylvania say the signs of theft were obvious _ there were no signs.

Someone stole 22 stop signs and two road directional signs from Independence Township, about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Also missing were nine residential mailboxes.

Someone rocked the aluminum signs back and forth and pulled them out sometime after 11 p.m. Sunday, Police Chief Robert Baron said.

"I don't know what's going on," he said. "I don't know if it's high school kids or just someone who needs money."

The signs might have been stolen to be sold as scrap, but the resale value would be low, Baron said. The total replacement cost is about $2,500.

No traffic problems have been reported because of the missing signs, many of which have already been replaced.

"But it's a very big concern of mine," Baron said.