Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement officials today announced the arrest of two St. Clair County residents in connection with the multiple thefts of coin-operated newspaper vending boxes that has taken place over the past several months in St. Clair County.

Since June, DNR Conservation Officer John Borkovich, while on routine patrol, has found several of the metal boxes, which had been discarded in the Port Huron State Game Area and thrown into the Black River or into Mill Creek.

At least four separate larceny reports of the stolen vending boxes had been filed with the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department since that time. In addition to stealing the money in the coin boxes, officials believe the perpetrator(s) also may have been reselling the stolen newspapers.

Thursday evening, around 7:30, officer Borkovich witnessed a van parked on the M-136 Bridge in the Beard Hills Area about 10 miles west of Port Huron and saw a suspect throw a newspaper box into the Black River. Borkovich made contact with the individual, placed him under arrest, and also arrested a second person, a female, in the van, where Borkovich discovered two additional boxes.

Officer Borkovich contacted sheriff's deputies for backup, and, after obtaining a search warrant, four more of the vending boxes were discovered at the subject's residence in Burtchville Township.

The suspects are lodged in the St. Clair County Jail and face multiple felony larceny charges as well as environmental litter and pollution charges. Their arraignment is pending.

As of early Friday afternoon, officer Borkovich had recovered 31 boxes, valued at more than $12,000, from the Black River. The recovered boxes are for the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Port Huron Times Herald and the Wall Street Journal.

The St. Clair County dive team will be at the site Monday to continue the investigation.