Two suspected thieves are in custody after a Cherokee County Deputy discovered them burglarizing a building south of Columbus.

At around 2:30am this morning, the deputy observed suspicious lights outside of a building used for storing equipment and other property. Moments later a vehicle left and the deputy conducted a traffic stop. As a result of information obtained from the suspects, and evidence in their possession, both occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.

49-year-old Ernest Wayne Moore, of Chetopa, and 35-year-old William Raymond Zimmerman, of Columbus, are both being held on allegations of burglary, theft and criminal trespassing.