(09-19) 17:32 PDT ANTIOCH – A word to burglars: Don’t break into a building full of police officers undergoing training.
Two men learned the hard way in Antioch and ended up being arrested, police said today.
James Ayers, 26, of Bethel Island and Frederick Guilliee, 38, of Antioch broke into a vacant building at 1700 West Fourth St. about 6 p.m. Tuesday in hopes of stealing copper wiring, police said.
They had no idea that the Antioch police K-9 unit was due for a training session at the building, which once housed a cardboard-processing plant.
And at first, the police had no idea that the burglary suspects were inside.
As part of the training, an officer hid inside the 40,000-square-foot building. A K-9 officer then called out that a dog was about to be released and that anyone inside should immediately give up or risk getting bitten.
That’s when Ayers surrendered, police said.
K-9 officers then searched the building and found Guilliee, police said.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary.
E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.
