Men accused of pawning stolen items for bail cash

[October 31, 2009]  HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Two Bozeman men have been arrested on probation violations after police said they tried to pawn a truckload of stolen items to bail a friend out of jail. Helena Police Chief Troy McGee said the two 21-year-old men arrived at a pawn shop Saturday morning with about $20,000 worth of goods including bikes, televisions and tools.

The store's clerk was suspicious and called police. Officers questioned the men, who said they were trying to raise bail money for a friend. A check with Bozeman police produced no reports of burglaries matching the items.

The officers got the cell phone number from one of the men.

Less than an hour later, McGee said Bozeman police called to said they had started receiving theft reports.

Officers called the men and told them to turn themselves in. The men did and were arrested.

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Information from: Independent Record, http://www.helenair.com

[Associated Press]

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