A large pile of Christie Avenue's bricks that were removed for utility work were stolen sometime in recent weeks.

Now city officials are saying whoever took the nearly 100-year-old bricks can return them without fear of criminal charges.

“I don't think they were maliciously stolen,” said Councilman Richard Schontz. “That's why we're asking whoever took them to return them with no questions asked.”

The bricks were dug up and removed from a about 30-foot-long section of Christie Avenue by a contractor repairing a water line for PA American Water. At least several hundred bricks were stored at a dumpsite off Delwood Road just over the city-township line.

Schontz, head of the streets department, said contractors are responsible for restoring any street to its original condition following utility work.

“They went back to get the bricks from where they were stored but they were gone,” he said.

City officials said they were not certain about when the bricks went missing, but said it was likely more than a month ago.

“But we didn't find out until about a week ago,” said Mayor Tom Donaldson.

The contractor attempted to find similar bricks for the street but was unable to find a match.

Schontz said it is the responsibility of the contractor to pay for the new bricks.

“It won't cost the city taxpayers anything,” he said.

Schontz said he believes the theft may have been a misunderstanding, with the unknown suspects taking them without realizing they still belonged to the city.

He said the city would even handle the work of retrieving the bricks if they are notified where they are.

However, if the bricks are not returned the city will investigate and pursue criminal charges.

“It would be a felony given the value of the bricks,” Schontz said.