Early Saturday morning, three Oxford County detectives arrested two men in Lovell who they say were in the process of stealing 25 gallons of gasoline from the Kezar Lake Country Club.

Suspect Jesse Leclair, of Harrison, 35, attempted to flee the scene in a 2020 black Kia Optima before authorities stopped and arrested him about 2:15 a.m., police say. They also detained Shaun Grady, of Lovell, 48, after he tried to escape on foot.

The two men are being held at the Oxford County Jail. Leclair was charged with two misdemeanor theft offenses. Grady was charged twice with felony theft offenses, twice with violations of bail conditions, twice with criminal trespass and twice with criminal mischief, in addition to an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Cumberland County on charges for thefts, criminal mischief and violation of conditions of release.

Authorities are preparing to execute a search warrant on the Optima they say Leclair was operating. The two suspects’ cellphones, gas cans and two rifles are also subject to an ongoing investigation.

The detectives were conducting a surveillance detail along Kimball Road on Friday night into Saturday morning due to ongoing thefts of gasoline and criminal activity in the area. The three officers hid on the scene for hours before the suspects arrived, they said.