Two men were arrested and charged with theft Friday after they were discovered to be in possession of 63 used vehicle batteries, police said.

The incident that led to the arrests of Jeremy Lee Gray Brooks, 39, of Indianapolis and Glen Richard Etheridge, 35, of Boggstown was reported as a robbery in progress at 11:47 a.m. at Seymour Mack Sales and Service, 1255 S. Commerce Drive, Seymour.

According to a news release from Seymour Police Department Detective Sgt. C.J. Foster, Brooks and Etheridge fled on foot after a U-Haul truck, which was carrying the batteries, became stuck in the mud.

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The two men crossed both lanes of Interstate 65 west of Seymour Mack Sales and Service. Brooks was caught shortly after officers arrived, while Etheridge was apprehended 45 minutes later.

During the investigation, police discovered the U-Haul’s ignition system had been severely damaged, Foster said. Detectives ran the vehicle identification number on the truck and learned it had been reported as stolen in Jacksonville, Florida.

The batteries were stolen from Seymour Mack Sales and Services with the intention of turning them in for their core charge value of $30 each, valuing the batteries at $1,890, Foster said.

Both Brooks and Etheridge are facing preliminary charges of two counts of theft.

One count is for the stolen batteries, and the other is for being in possession of the stolen U-Haul truck, police said.

Although the incident was initially reported as a robbery, neither Brooks nor Etheridge was charged with robbery as the crime committed did not meet the criteria, police said.

Officers with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police troopers assisted with the investigation.

Both charges are Level 6 felonies punishable by six months to two and a half years in jail if convicted.