Two Lauderdale County men remain in jail after being charged in a series of residential burglaries in Colbert and Franklin counties, officials said Thursday.

Jason Robert Young Jr., 29, 1253 Lauderdale 271, Florence, and Jonathan Wayne Scott, 32, 701 Locke Six Road, Apt. 4, Killen, have been arrested in connection with the burglary of nine residences, officials said.

They are charged with nine counts of third-degree burglary, seven counts of second-degree theft of property and one count of first-degree theft of property, authorities said.

Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said the two men are accused of burglarizing residences in the Underwood Mountain Road and Crooked Oak communities between Feb. 15-18.

In Franklin County, Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the men are charged in connection with burglaries at houses in the Tharptown and Mountain Star communities.

"They were doing all of these burglaries during the day, apparently riding around looking for houses where no one was at home," Oliver said.

He said in most cases entrance to the houses were made by kicking in the back doors and a variety of items were taken in each theft, including tools, jewelry, guns, electronics and prescription pills.

"Basically, they took anything they could get a quick dollar for," Oliver said.

May said investigators got a break in the case when one of the homeowners returned in time to see a car leaving his residence.

"The homeowner gave us the description and we started looking for the vehicle," May said.

He said Muscle Shoals police found the car at a local business and the two men were taken into custody.

"This is a perfect example of how working together with other agencies and the public can have positive results," Oliver said. "The result in this case was two arrests."

May said more than $10,000 worth of items taken during the burglaries have been recovered.

Young and Scott are in the Colbert County Jail on bail totaling $30,000 each.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.