Big Island authorities yesterday charged two Kona men with felony copper theft and attempted copper theft, police said.

Police arrested Dallas Runyon, 31, and Gordon Kimo Lopes, 48, on Monday for allegedly stealing and attempting to steal copper at a religious facility.

At 1:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of a theft in progress.

When officers arrived, they found people at the religious facility holding the two men, who had allegedly removed copper materials from a renovation at the facility.

During the investigation, detectives linked Lopes and Runyon to a previous copper theft. Police arrested them at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday and charged them with that theft.

Police said the two men were each being held in lieu of $4,000 bail.