According to Spalding County Sheriff Dee Stewart, two men, 18-year-old Kevin Tyler Jones and 26-year-old Charles Ray Sanders, both of Griffin, have been arrested on charges of copper theft.

Over the last several months copper thieves have hit some of the power substations throughout Griffin, Stewart said in a press release. Investigators have been working long hours attempting to solve the thefts, efforts which paid off last week when the suspects were arrested.

Stewart said the Georgia Power substation on Pine Street and the Georgia Transmission Corp. station on Georgia Highway 155 were targeted.

Both suspects have been charged with numerous counts of felony theft by taking.

During their crime spree, Jones and Sanders allegedly caused more than $21,000 worth of damage while stealing small quantities of copper.

As most people know, there has been an increase in copper theft and perpetrators cause more property damage than what they get when they cash in the copper, said Stewart.

Stewart said that if the suspects are convicted, the Spalding County District Attorney’s Office will also ask for restitution for the damage caused.

Both suspects are being held in the Spalding County Jail.