Alleged burglars caught in the act on New Hope Rd.

A woman returned to her New Hope Rd. home Wednesday morning only to find two burglars inside.From Sheriff Jimmy Thomas:Pike County Deputies responded to a burglary in progress call today on New Hope Road at 11:31 a.m. Upon the deputies arrival it was learned that a female victim had returned home to find two males inside her residence. The victim was confronted by one of suspects and told “not to call anyone” at which time the suspects fled the house. The victim was able to point deputies toward a wooded area where she had seen them enter as they ran away. The homeowner was unharmed.A perimeter was set up to contain the suspects movements by additional deputies as the Pike county K-9 unit was notified to be en route to the scene. As the deputies kept watch the suspects were observed to be walking in the edge of the woods in an attempt to cross a road and escape law enforcement. When confronted by Deputies the suspects attempted to run on foot but were apprehended after a foot chase.Items that were stolen from the residence were found in one of the suspect’s pocket. In addition a bag was located that had been dropped by one of the burglars that contained numerous items that were taken.Russell Wayne Jones, 42 years of age , and Billy Johnson, 37 years of age, both of 130 Spalding Street in Griffin were arrested and are currently in the Pike County Jail. They are both facing first degree burglary, criminal trespassing and obstruction of officers. They both have extensive criminal histories with Johnson having twenty one prior arrests and Jones having twenty three in Georgia.