Two men have been charged with cutting down Duke Energy power poles to steal components from them, causing $1 million in damages and sparking a six-hour power outage, the Guilford County Sheriff's Office said.

On Monday, deputies executed search warrants at 3386 Old Julian Road and 3400 Old Julian Road in Whitsett leading to the arrest of Brian Keith Gerner, 47, and Kenneth Lee Gregory, 45, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities say the two men were involved in multiple thefts of Duke Energy equipment, in one instance causing an outage that left about 5,600 residents without power for six hours.

Gerner was charged with two counts of felony injury to an energy facility and three counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense.

Gregory was charged with two counts of felony injury t

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