Polk County Police have arrested two men – one with a previous history of theft of heavy equipment – after a four wheeler and drugs were found on Friday at a Stringer Road address, according to police officials.

Michael Steele, 45, of 332 Stringer Road address in Rockmart, was found with 47 grams of methamphetamine (that’s nearly two ounces) and his partner Jeremy Baines, of a Lakeview Circle address, was found with four and a half grams when police were called to Steele’s home and found the four-wheeler and the pair with drugs around 10 p.m. on Friday.

According to officers, Baines was previously involved with thefts of heavy equipment in Polk County five years prior and had just been released from prison in February having served time on those charges.

Baines remained in jail without bond on charges of possession and use of drug related objects, and felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and theft by taking.

Steele was being held without bail as well on charges of trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana or methamphetamine, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, possession of firearm by convicted felon or first offender, possession and use of drug related objects, possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Officials from the Polk County Police also thanked the Aragon Police for their assistance in the case.

The Polk County Police Department also would like to remind the public of the following actions they can take to keep from losing their possessions to theft:

1. Remember to lock your doors at night, and keep any valuables in a shed, garage, outbuilding, barn or other facility on your property under lock and key.
2. Do not leave any valuables in your vehicle. A prime target of thefts is from vehicles, especially those leaving behind firearms, wallets and expensive electronics. (This has happened to me before, don’t be a victim.)
3. If you valuables are stolen, one way the police can ensure they are returned is by having serial numbers, photographs, and descriptions for all of your possessions that are important to you. Every vehicle’s serial number is important as well, along with license information, as well as any firearms you might own. This will also come in handy in case you ever find yourself needing it for insurance purposes following storm damage or replacing goods that were stolen.
4. Immediately report thefts to the police along with the information above about what is stolen. The sooner they know, the sooner the information can be transferred to state databases reporting stolen goods to ensure if they are sold afterward at say a pawn shop, they can be tracked.