From their office window, Modesto detectives witness a crime in progress

Two men were arrested Tuesday afternoon when Modesto detectives witnessed them stealing copper from the rooftop air conditioning unit of a building across the street from the police department.

“From the window of their office they see these guys tearing up an AC on the rooftop of a business that is kitty corner to the police department,” said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

The detectives and other officers surrounded the building in the northwest coroner of G and Tenth streets and ordered the suspects down. The men came down and tried to run but quickly surrendered when they realized they were surrounded by officers and a police K9, Graves said.

The men were booked into the Stanislaus County Jail. Their names and charges were not available Tuesday evening.

This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 6:52 PM with the headline "From their office window, Modesto detectives witness a crime in progress."