Spalding Police arrest Stephen Jennings, John Butler in Copper Thefts

Authorities in Spalding County say a conceed citizen helped deputies with the arrest of two men attempting to steal copper from an abandoned home on Tuesday.

Police say the citizen reported that a small red vehicle stopped on Carver Road and drop of a man, who then walked towards the abandoned home.

Units responded and when they arrived on the scene, deputies were able to apprehend the man crawling under the house and removing copper wiring. Deputies then waited for the red car to retu to pick up the man they had in custody.

They didn't have to wait long. Police say about 20 minutes the car came back and they arrested the driver.

Police identified the suspects as Stephen Charles Jennings, 56-years-old, of Griffin; and John David Butler, 32-years-old, of Griffin. Jennings has been charged with Parties to the Crime of Criminal Damage to Property and Butler has been charged with Theft by Taking Felony, Criminal Damage to Property.

Authorities say damage to the property was more than $500.