PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Two men were arrested Sunday in Floyd County for allegedly stealing copper.

Prestonsburg Police were called to the Jim C. Hamer sawmill on Lancer-Watergap Road in Prestonsburg over a report of a burglary in progress. But when police arrived, the subjects were already gone.

About two hours later, Floyd County sheriff’s deputies reported stopping two men at Banner in a vehicle matching the description of the one seen at the sawmill. The men — identified as 49-year-old Phillip Morgan Joseph, of Garrett, and 48-year-old Jackie Darrell Hall, of Offutt — were found with between 300 and 400 lbs. of burnt copper wire.

Hall told police he had never been to the sawmill and that Joseph had picked him up that morning to get some copper ready to sell. Joseph told police that he already had the copper at that location.

However, police found bolt cutters, hammers, pry bars and saws in Joseph’s vehicle. A deputy also discovered several areas where copper had been taken from the sawmill property, as well tire tracks allegedly matching Joseph’s vehicle.

Both men were arrested on charges of theft, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief.