BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (November 23, 2012)--A Connecticut real estate agent has been charged in the theft of a competitor's for sale signs from the front lawns of area homes.

Police say Robert Toth, 54, of Shelton, was charged Wednesday with third-degree larceny and first-degree criminal trespass.

Toth owns American Home Realty in Trumbull.

Police say U.S. Asset Realty owner Jihad Shaheer complained in September that his signs had been stolen from more than a half-dozen sites in Bridgeport and from the front of two homes in Stratford.

Police said they later determined that Toth had been taking the signs.

Toth worked for Shaheer before opening his own real estate company.

Toth declined to comment.