Columbus police arrested two men after a homeowner reported they were stealing tools from his back porch.
Donald E. Burton II, 28, 1619 Washington St., Columbus, was arrested on preliminary charges of felony burglary and two Bartholomew County warrants, said Sgt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police spokesman. The warrants were for failure to appear on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge and failure to appear on battery and conversion charges.
Keith J. Gilbert, 40, 866 Country Squire Blvd., North Vernon, was arrested on two preliminary charges of possession of stolen property, Harris said.
At about 12:04 a.m. Thursday, a homeowner in the 1600 block of McClure Road called the Columbus Police Department about two masked men stealing tools from his porch, Harris said. The homeowner told police the two men fled to a garage in the 2800 block of 16th Street.
Officers went to the garage and found Gilbert and Burton in the garage, Harris said. Burton was believed to have been living in the garage, Harris said.
While standing outside the garage, officers saw tools and a pair of shoes in the backyard, Harris said. When officers entered the garage they found several bicycles and two camouflage masks, Harris said. After checking the bikes’ serial numbers, police learned that two had been reported stolen in Columbus last year, Harris said.
Police also determined that Burton had two warrants out for his arrest, Harris said.
While searching the area, the officers located tools and equipment that the homeowner had reported stolen, Harris said.
Gilbert is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, jail officials said. Burton is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $47,500 bond, jail officials said.
