Two men have been charged with attempting to steal copper wire from the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company facility in Perry Hall early Monday morning.

Shortly before 1 a.m., a patrol officer checked the BGE facility on the 9700 block of Belair Road where copper burglaries have recently been reported. While walking the fence perimeter, the officer saw two men dressed in black and called for additional police, according to a police report.

Officers, assisted by a helicopter unit, found a large hole in the facility's fence and a pile of copper wire spools. Police arrested two men who were attempting to hide by lying down near a hill of dirt near the construction site of the new Firestone store, the police report shows.

About $1,500 worth of copper wire was recovered by BGE. Damage to the fence will cost about $500 to repair, according to the police report.

Brian Scott Hildreth, 45, of the 1500 block of Taylor Avenue in Parkville, and Kenneth James McDonald, 56, of the unit block of Gibbons Boulevard in Baltimore, were each charged with theft, burglary, malicious destruction of property and trespassing, court records show.

Lt. Ron Brooks of the White Marsh police precinct said that both men have a history of drug-related offenses.

Brooks praised the patrol officer for the arrests.

"It's good police work. That's why he's there," he said.

What can homeowners and businesses do to protect copper from burglary? Tell us in the comments.