Two men were arrested Thursday after police caught them stealing copper in a vacant house.

Dennis L. Hyslope Jr., 23, and Christopher Conley, 20, face charges of breaking and entering, vandalism, obstructing official business, resisting arrest and possessing criminal tools, according to a Dayton police incident report.

The arrests occurred after police responded to reports of a breaking and entering in progress at a vacant house in the 500 block of Carlisle Avenue.

Officers spotted the suspects fleeing the house and gave chase. The pair were apprehended on Linden Avenue at the U.S. 35 overpass, according to the report.

Police returned to the house and found a black bag containing copper piping, a screw driver and crow bar, according to the report.

Officers noted in the report a 10-foot to 12-foot section of copper piping had been removed from the basement of the house.

The suspects apparently gained entry by prying open a rear window, according to the report.

Police said there were fresh footprints on the roof, indicating how the suspects exited the home after officers arrived.

The suspects are in the Montgomery County Jail.

— Staff Writer Meredith Whelchel is a junior at the University of Dayton.