HILLSBORO (February 5, 2010)--An alert police officer who noticed a gate lock out of place eventually arrested three men who were burglarizing a lumber company in Hillsboro.

Hillsboro police Chief Tony said officers were sent to the business on Bois d'Arc Street at about 2:30 a.m. after a patrolman noticed the gate was improperly locked and called for backup.

Officers discovered two men inside the yard who were loading a stolen rental truck with bundles of high-grade composite shingles.

Another truckload already had left the area and was not found.

The third man was arrested as he drove into the yard in another stolen rental truck while police were there

Cain said he has not been able to positively identify the three of the men arrested Friday.

Formal charges could be filed Saturday, Cain said.

Friday morning's theft involved about 50 squares of shingles.

Bob Tucker, owner of Tucker Lumber Company, said this is not the first time his business has been burglarized.

Tucker said other lumberyards in Waco, Belton and Ennis have been hit as well.

"Last time they hit me I lost 300 squares (of shingles)", Tucker said. "That's more than a semi-load-and-a-half."

Tucker told News 10 investigators found those shingles at a resale store in Dallas and recovered them.

The value of the goods stolen in the earlier burglary was estimated to be more than $20,000, Tucker said.