The City of Lathrop Police Department responded in the wee hours Saturday morning to a call of a reported copper theft.

Officers were working graveyard shift when they received a call from a local business at about 12:25 a.m.

“Upon arrival, officers coordinated with on-site security and successfully detained two suspects attempting to flee on foot,” police posted on social media on Monday.

It was during the investigation that officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the area – a traffic enforcement stop was initiated, leading to the discovering of a loaded .22 rifle found inside the vehicle.

Police arrested a 38-year-old Manteca man, who was booked for carrying a loaded firearm and driving without a valid driver’s license. His car was towed and the firearm was seized as evidence.

The other two suspects – a 30-year-old Stockton man and a 33-year-old Stockton man – were booked on charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, and conspiracy.

All three were taken to San Joaquin County Jail.