PALMYRA, Mo. (AP) — Theft of road signs is a common problem in rural Missouri, but officials in northeast Missouri’s Marion County were puzzled when nearly 50 went missing, until a group of young men fessed up.

The Hannibal Courier-Post reports that six young adults recently came forward to confess they stole 49 road signs as a prank.

County road superintendent Mike Schaefer says the men felt remorse and went to the sheriff’s department to turn themselves in, before also apologizing to Schaefer. They asked if there was anything they could do to make amends.

Schaefer and Sheriff Jimmy Shinn planned to talk to determine if the men should be prosecuted or simply allowed to pay restitution.