Felony charges are pending against a pair of Kalispell men who were arrested this week in connection with a string of vehicle break-ins in cities across the state.

Shane Thomas Paull, 26, and Richard Prewitt, 18, have been linked to more than 15 such break-ins in the Kalispell area alone, said Kalispell Police Detective Doug Overman.

They also are suspected of breaking into vehicles parked in Whitefish, Butte, Billings and Great Falls.

Most of the break-ins occurred within the last month, said Overman, adding that he expects additional arrests in the case.

Paull and Prewitt were taken into custody outside a West Idaho Street bank after allegedly forging checks reported stolen from area vehicles and then attempting to cash them.

Officers noticed the suspects' car across the street while they took the forgery complaint from bank employees, Overman said.

Paull was charged late Thursday afternoon with forgery by common scheme, a felony, and misdemeanor theft. Prewitt faces felony accountability to forgery, a common scheme, and misdemeanor theft, according to the Flathead County Attorney's Office.

Both men are incarcerated at the Flathead County Detention Center and have yet to be arraigned.

Investigators believe the men would keep some items stolen from the vehicles while pawning others at area businesses.

"Essentially, they take whatever has value, then destroy what they can't pawn," said Overman, who suspects Paull and Prewitt hit mainly unlocked cars.

Property commonly stolen included cash, credit cards, checkbooks, IDs, CDs, cell phones, radios, stereo equipment, portable DVD players, tools, watches and jewelry.

Police searched two cars and a residence tied to the pair, recovering a substantial amount of stolen property.

Authorities will attempt to return stolen property with its rightful owners. People who have had property stolen can call 758-7780.

Paull previously was convicted in Powell County of vandalism committed in 2002 and was sent to prison.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com