ELLSWORTH – Two men in a blue pickup truck pulled in behind Renys department store Thursday evening, picked up two large black rubber mats from a pile of merchandise near the back door and drove away.

Troy Hardie of Stonington and Michael Hutchinson of Ellsworth claimed that the mats had been discarded as garbage. Ellsworth police didn’t agree.

A Renys employee reported the theft, describing the vehicle’s appearance and direction. Sgt. Leigh Guildford caught up with the men near Water Street and charged them with theft of the mats, worth a total of $80. The mats were returned to Renys.

Hardie, driver of the truck, was also issued a summons for operating with an expired license.