ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart Police Department reports two men have been arrested for their alleged connection to several recent thefts from vehicles at Old Farm Apartments.

On Monday, police say they responded to the apartments around 10:53 p.m. regarding a call about two men wearing all black and ski masks getting into vehicles and possibly stealing from them.

Officers arrived and began searching for said suspects.

Shortly after, an officer witnessed the two masked men hiding behind some cars.

The report states the two men, later identified as 20-year-old Gavin Ernsberger of Goshen and 21-year-old Isaak Duran of Elkhart, then fled on foot.

Police say one of the men dropped a backpack while fleeing. Officers later retrieved the backpack, which was found to contain IDs, passports, cologne bottles, jewelry, a handgun, and drug paraphernalia.

During the chase, officers took one man into custody in the 3400 block of E. Lane, while the other suspect fled into a nearby wooded area.

A K9 unit and drone were then used to locate the second suspect. The suspect was arrested without incident.

The investigation led to the discovery of a suspect vehicle, a Cadillac CTS, parked nearby where officers observed what is described as an AR style rifle in plain view within the car alongside several wallets, cell phones, and purses.

A search warrant was then obtained and executed on the car.

Police retrieved the wallets, identity documents, a passport, and several other items.

The vehicle was then taken to EPD for processing by the Crime Scene Unit.

Another person's ID was also found when searching one of the suspects.

Ernsberger was booked into the Elkhart County Jail on preliminary charges of Theft of a Firearm, a Level 5 Felony, Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor, and two counts of Theft, as a Class A Misdemeanor. His bond at $75,000.

Duran was booked into the Elkhart County Jail on preliminary charges of Theft of a Firearm, a Level 5 Felony, Possession of Marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor, Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor. His bond was set at $50,000.

Both arrests have been forwarded to the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office for review of formal criminal charges.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

Police currently believe approximately 13 vehicles at the Old Farm Apartments complex are known to have had items stolen from them.

Authorities say at this point in the investigation, only one vehicle was damaged to access the property inside.

The report states the other vehicles were left unlocked with valuables inside.

As a public safety tip, police are reminding residents to Lock. Take. Hide:

• Lock your car and close the windows
• Take your keys. Never leave key fobs in the vehicle
• Hide your belongings out of sight or in the trunk. Purses, money, credit cards and cell phones in plain view can attract thieves. Better yet, take valuables inside overnight.