Two McPherson Beverages employees were arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing money from drink machines throughout the city and county.

Lieutenant Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Frank Burgess, 35, and Phalanese Calvin Cooper, 30, both of Roanoke Rapids, were charged with three counts each of larceny by employee.

The company contacted Martin and told him they believed money was being taken from drink machines by employees as they worked them. “In a joint effort with McPherson, the sheriff's office started the investigation into the alleged thefts of money,” Martin said in a news release. “During the investigation it was learned that Burgess and Cooper were removing money from company bags and transporting (them) away from the work truck.”

The two have allegedly been doing this since the first of the year. Martin declined to say how much money was taken. The men were jailed on $3,000 bonds and have May 12 court dates.