The three men were caught in Rockbridge in Hocking County while trying to break into a gas station, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.
Brothers Randy Holschuh and Shawn Holschuh, along with Van Goble, were arrested by Hocking County sheriff's deputies and charged with felony breaking and entering.
Detectives told 10TV News these suspects used a construction torch to burn their way into stores.
One of the businesses authorities believe the three men robbed was the Smokes Plus store on Morse Road in Columbus.
During that robbery July 26, more than $18,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen after a plasma torch was used to cut hole through a steel door at the back of the store.
"We closed at 10:30, and we got a call at 11:15," store worker Densie Saleh told 10TV News. "We got a call there was a break-in."
Since the robbery, the store has welded a thicker steel plate on the back door and added motion detectors.
"Right now, they don't know what they're messing with," Saleh said. "So come on back."
Saleh said the skyrocketing price of cigarettes have turned smokes into a prized commodity for thieves, and she encouraged other stores to take precautions.
The mother of Randy Holschuh and Shawn Holshcuh told 10TV News that she knew her sons were in jail Thursday night, but she was unaware of the reason until she saw their faces on the news. She declined to be interviewed further.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
