Two men caught stealing county property were arrested Thursday when Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies stopped them after they left a metal recycling center.Bulloch County Correctional Institute employees were in the area of Five Chop Road Thursday when they noticed two men in a small truck had several metal “beaver gates” in the bed of the pickup, said Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson.Beaver gates are metal barriers used to keep beavers from entering county maintained culverts and drainage pipes and building dams, he said. One BCCI officer called the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office over the radio and reported the thefts, then followed the suspects as they drove to Newell’s Recycling on U.S. 301 South, Anderson said.Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the call, and caught up with Johnny Lanard Jenkins Jr., Fair Road, and David Lee Jr., Akins Circle Road, Brooklet, as they were traveling on Ga. 46.After a brief investigation, both men were arrested in connection with the theft of three beaver gates.Jenkins was charged with theft by taking and probation violation, while Lee was charged with theft by taking.Metal theft is a growing problem throughout the region, with several incidents reported where people have stolen scrap metal, farm equipment, junked vehicles, air conditioner units, and other metal items to take to recycling centers, where they sell the metal.Bulloch County sheriff’s investigators have stepped up patrol and are monitoring areas and businesses where thefts have occurred or may occur, Anderson said.Anyone with information about metal theft or any other crime is asked to call the Sheriff’s office at (912) 764-8888.Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.