Columbus Police arrested a pair of area men early Thursday morning after a homeowner allegedly caught them burglarizing his property.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that

just after midnight, officers were called to the 1600 block of McClure Road after the homeowner returned to find two men, wearing masks, allegedly stealing tools from his back porch. The homeowner told police that the suspects possibly fled to a garage in the 2800 block of 16th Street.

Harris says that officers went to the garage, where they found 40-year-old Keith J. Gilbert, of North Vernon and 28-year-old Donald E. Burton, II, of

Columbus. He adds that Burton had been living in the garage. While standing outside the garage, the officers reported seeing tools, as well as a pair of shoes, in the back yard. When officers entered the garage to speak with the men, they allegedly found several bicycles, as well as two

camouflage masks inside the building. After checking the bikes’ serial numbers, police were able to determine that two of them had been reported stolen in Columbus last year. Harris added that it was also determined that Burton had two local warrants out for his arrest. While searching the area for an additional suspect, officers reported locating several tools and equipment that the original complainant said belonged to him.

Gilbert and Burton were both arrested and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

Keith J. Gilbert:
Two Counts of Possession of Stolen Property (Class A Misdemeanors)

Donald E. Burton II:
Bartholomew County Warrant (Failure to Appear on Possession of Drug Paraphernalia)
Bartholomew County Warrant (Failure to Appear on Battery and Conversion)
Burglary (Level 5 Felony)