The Pike County Sheriff’s Office caught two alleged shoplifters at the Dollar General in Spring Hill, but they found more than just some stolen goods.

Pike County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Childs said when officers searched the duo’s vehicle, they found drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

Scarlet Zito, 35, and Jason McDonald, 28, were both arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Zito was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and Zito with second-degree possession of marijuana.

“Any time you get drugs off the street, that’s one step closer to the solution that we’re looking for,” Childs said. “They’ve got to be getting the marijuana from somewhere and this cuts that line off between the dealers and the users.”

Childs said Zito gave deputies permission to search the vehicle, which is when they found the drug and paraphernalia. Included in the paraphernalia were marijuana pipes, bags, scales and a pipe Childs said is used for smoking methamphetamines, although no meth was found in the vehicle.

The first-degree possession of marijuana charge is a Class C felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison. Childs said the first-degree charge is due to a past conviction of the lesser charge for McDonald.

All other charges are misdemeanors. Childs said the store manager elected not to file charges for the shoplifting after the items were returned, instead requesting Zito and McDonalds be banned from the property.