The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department arrested two area men Monday night after an observant deputy saw suspicious activity.

A department spokesperson says that at approximately 11:45 p.m., Deputy Rick Meyer was watching a residence in the 5800 block of North Base Road. The Sheriff’s Department says that the property had bit hit by several incidents of theft over the past couple of weeks. Deputy Meyer reported seeing a vehicle stop along the road, near the property. He then allegedly witnessed a man get out and walk towards a set of private gas tanks on the property. A short time later, Meyer reported that the man came back to the vehicle, then drove away.

Deputy Meyer caught up to the vehicle and pulled it over at the intersection of Base Road and State Road 258. Inside the vehicle were 33-year-old Kyle England, of Freetown, and 38-year-old Darrell Crow, of Columbus. Meyer also reported seeing a gas can in the back seat of the vehicle. Authorities then went to the property and spoke with the owner, who allegedly confirmed that the gas tanks were tampered with.

Sheriff’s Department officials say that England and Crow were arrested and booked in the Jackson County Jail on preliminary charges of Theft and Possession of Paraphernalia.