Two brothers stole nearly $500,000 worth of sewer grates from suburbs near Philadelphia and sold them for pennies on the dollar at scrap yards, police said.

Authorities arrested 36-year-old Brian and 38-year-old John Vertrulli Jr. on Saturday in Montgomery County, charging them with theft, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property, according to an Associated Press report.

Unable to pay the $10,000 bail, they remained in jail Tuesday.

Police said the men, who were from Gilbertsville, stole 13 sewer grates from parking lots since December and possessed receipts showing that they had sold more than 1,000 grates to scrap metal dealers.

The grates weigh about 100 pounds and cost the government about $475 apiece — the brothers only received $9 per grate at the scrap yards, police say.

The brothers have a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 30.

Police first spotted the drivers during a routine patrol in a vehicle that matched the description of one that had been used in sewer-grate thefts in a nearby locale, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report.

Officers saw a large pry bar in the bed of the truck during the stop, and later found that Brian Vertrulli had an outstanding warrant for theft. Police further searched the truck and found receipts dating a month back for more than 1,000 grates, according to the report.

In all, the grates which had been purchased for $500,000 by the government was sold for about $9,000 as scrap, police said.