LEWISTON – Good detective work and patience helped the detectives crack the case of a stolen safe.

Detectives developed a lead that the theft of the safe from a fast-food restaurant on Monday was an “inside job,” so they set up surveillance that led to the safe and the suspects Thursday night in Greene.

Brian Day, 21, and Donald Bouthot, 18, were trying to cut into the safe with a large gas-powered masonry saw when officers swooped in for the arrest, said Lewiston Sgt. Michael T. McGonagle.

Earlier attempts to open the safe apparently had failed, so the pair brought in heavy-duty equipment, McGonagle said.

Day was charged with theft and burglary, and was held Friday afternoon on $1,000 bail at the Androscoggin County Jail, authorities said. Bouthot was held on $500 bail on a theft charge.

The case remains under investigation and there could be more arrests, McGonagle said Friday.