AUBURN - The Rev. Peter DeBellis said there will be no questions or prosecution.

He and his church simply want whoever took a street sign from "Father Shamon's Way" earlier this week to bring it back.

"We just want it returned," the pastor said about the heavy metal sign that memorialized the alley next to the church in memory of the Rev. Albert Shamon and his twin brother, the Rev. Edward Shamon.

Auburn police said the sign, similar to a historical landmark sign, was taken sometime late Monday or early Tuesday from the Clark Street church. The sign was dedicated in December as a permanent way to honor the two priests who left an indelible mark on the community.

DeBellis said the pole that held the sign was cut with some kind of tool, leading him to suspect that the theft might not have been an prank or an act of random vandalism.

"That's why it's so disturbing," he said.

The Shamons had a long history of religious service in the area.

Edward was pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Auburn until his death in 1980. Albert founded Tyburn Academy in Auburn and served as administrator at St. Isaac Jogues Church in Fleming until his death in November 2003.

The Auburn pastoral council, which is the governing body over each parish, chose to pay this tribute to the Shamons because of their years of service to the community and to the church.

"Hopefully, we'll get the sign back," DeBellis said. "But I don't know."

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the sign is being asked to call DeBellis at the church at 252-7593.