Two men have been arrested for stealing meat and other items from retail businesses and selling them to others.

Friday night, Detective Larry Patterson received information from Walmart that two men had entered their store and were suspected to be involved with a theft ring. The pair left before Det. Patterson’s arrival.

Det. Patterson knew the pair’s habits of striking additional stores in a series and found them at Kroger in Grand Central Place. They were taken into custody without incident.

The men were Steven Napier, age 27, of Richmond, and Jonathan Lewis, age 25, of Mt. Vernon.

Detective Patterson had been investigating the case after receiving information two people were stealing meat, detergent, and other items from local businesses. The investigation showed the goods were being resold to smaller privately-owned grocery stores in Central Kentucky.

Det. Billy Bolin executed a search warrant on the vehicle Napier and Lewis were occupying during the most recent thefts. It revealed several pounds of meat, detergent, and other consumable goods.

Napier and Lewis were charged with Theft of Retail Merchandise for the purpose of Resale, a Class C Felony. Both were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center. Each was also charged on unrelated criminal warrants from others counties.

The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected.