Two men have been arrested in connection with thefts from six vehicles Monday.

Gry L. Burkett Jr., 28, who is reportedly homeless, is charged with six counts of theft and one count of possession of criminal tools, and Larry L. Weaver, 36, of 400 Boundary St., Portsmouth, faces six counts of theft.

About 4:54 a.m. Monday, Portsmouth Police officers received a call from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office after deputies spotted two men dressed in dark clothing who ran from them.

The deputies pursued and caught the pair on U.S. 52 eastbound at the exit ramp of Ohio 335. While patting them down, they noticed a large amount of change in their pockets.

Officers said the men had cell phones that did not belong to them, and when they called the owner of one of the phones, deputies reported that that person’s vehicle had been broken into.

In addition to the large amount of change and phones, officers found several cell phone chargers, Nintendo DSi and games, an iPod, aftershave, cologne, paperwork that didn’t belong to them, knives, keys and jewelry.

Officers said Burkett had a plastic baggie in his pocket that contained porcelain. Officers said the porcelain is used to break windows, and they reportedly found broken glass in Weaver’s pocket. Officers also found a laptop computer in the grass.

According to police, Burkett showed deputies the vehicles he said he could remember he had broken into.

In total, six vehicles were reportedly broken into and the theft of the laptop escalates one of the offenses to a felony.

Both were taken to Scioto County Jail.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.