SALEM — Two men were arrested outside of a vacant home Friday after the pair allegedly cut some copper pipes from the basement, police said.

Theodore Hebert, 22, of Salem and Philip Smith, 21, of Haverhill, Mass., are both charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

Smith also faces a charge of possession of burglary tools.

Police were called to the home at 128 Porcupine Circle for a report of suspicious activity. A caller told police that two men entered the vacant home from a rear window sometime before 12:20 p.m. Officers found the men outside of the home when they arrived. Both men were detained and identified as police looked around inside the house.

Officers noticed the copper pipes in the driveway with water still dripping from the ends, police said.

Inside the home, police saw that plumbing in the basement had been cut out.

They also discovered an oil leak coming from the heating oil tank. A pipe had been cut from the oil tank as well, police said.

The burglars stuck a screwdriver in the hole to keep the oil tank from seeping, police said. But Salem Fire & Rescue responded to the scene to deal with the small leak, according to police.

Hebert and Smith were arrested at the scene. Hebert was being held on $5,000 cash bail. Smith had two electronic bench warrants out of 10th Circuit Court in Salem for failure to appear. Smith refused bail.

Both men are felony charges that are punishable by up to 3½ to 7 years in state prison. Hebert and Smith are being held at the Rockingham County jail.

jkimble@newstote.com

WHAT'S NEXT: Theodore Smith and Philip Hebert will be arraigned in 10th Circuit Court in Salem on burglary-related charges. A judge will set bail at that hearing.