Two Bozeman men are accused of showing up at a Helena pawn shop with a truck nearly overflowing with about $20,000 worth of stolen goods.

The two 21-year-old men went to a Prospect Avenue shop Saturday morning and attempted to sell some of the goods, which included bikes, televisions and tools, according to Helena Police Chief Troy McGee.

"It was a small truck and it was piled as high as it would go," McGee said.

The store's clerk thought the scene seemed suspicious and called the police. Officers arrived and questioned the men, who said they were trying to get money to bail a friend out of jail in Bozeman, McGee said.

The duo is now in Lewis and Clark County detention center for violations of probation.

The officers took some pictures of the items and called Bozeman authorities to see if they had a recent spree of burglaries or thefts, to which they said no. Just in case, the officers took a cell phone number from one of the men.

About 45 minutes later, Helena police received a call from Bozeman saying authorities had begun to receive reports of stolen items similar to those that filled the truck, McGee said. Officers called the men and told them to turn themselves in or they would be apprehended.

The two men returned with the truck full of stolen goods. A third suspect was no longer in the vehicle.

Drew R. McDowell was arrested on a probation violation for traveling to Lewis and Clark County without permission. McDowell was on probation stemming from a felony burglary conviction out of Yellowstone County.

Police also arrested Caleb R. McAndrew-Berry on a probationviolation warrant stemming from a theft conviction from MadisonCounty.

The matter of the stolen goods has been referred to Bozeman authorities, McGee said. At least 15 victims from the spree of burglaries and thefts have been identified, and officials continue to locate the rightful owners of other items.

Bozeman authorities needed a flatbed truck to retrieve all of the stolen merchandise, according to McGee.

Reporter Angela Brandt: 447-4078 or angela.brandt@helenair.com