Denton County sheriff’s deputies are looking for two men who almost were caught in the act of stealing from a barn but who escaped without their pickup.

An employee of a farmer on Sherman Road near Justin reported Thursday that someone had stolen metal from the barn several times recently, and his employer was tired of being burglarized. The two men put out spikes in the way of anyone driving to the barn, according to the report.

The employee saw two men with a pickup at the barn. The truck had two flat tires, according to the report, and the men had jacked it up and had taken the tires off the truck when the employee arrived. They fled on foot.

They had not been able to get to the stacks of metal in the barn before the spikes flattened their tires. Tracks led into the barn and also to a nearby gate,  which opens into a gas well site, that had been locked. The chain and lock were gone.

Sheriff’s deputies searched the area but did not find the men. Deputies seized the pickup and are seeking warrants in connection with the attempted theft, according to the report.

Other reports

500 block of Bradley Street — A man reported to Denton police Thursday that he ran into an old friend from 15 years ago early on Oct. 22. He said he invited the woman to his home to talk, and she stayed from about 2 a.m. to about 3 a.m.

After she left, he discovered that his wallet was missing from a table in the room. The wallet had contained $600 and his passport. He did not believe the woman took the wallet, thinking instead that he had lost it.

But on Thursday, he walked into a convenience store and saw her there. She tried to hide from him, he said, and left without speaking to him or making any purchases.

Now he believes the woman took his wallet and would like to have her prosecuted, the report states.

1200 block of Bent Oak — A veterinarian’s employee reported Thursday that a woman came into the business Oct. 2 with three cats. She said her neighbor died and the neighbor’s relatives gave her the cats to care for. She wanted the cats vaccinated and examined. She was supposed to return the next day to pick them up.

But she never returned, according to the report. The office sent registered mail to her but it was returned by the post office.

Employees visited the address, which turned out to be a vacant lot. They can’t leave her a voice mail message because her mailbox is full, according to the police report.

Roundup

From 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday:

* Denton police handled 330 service and officer-initiated calls, including one theft, four burglaries, two vehicle burglaries, one deceased person, two reports of harassment, one criminal mischief, nine thefts, one credit card abuse and three assaults.

* Denton County sheriff’s dispatchers handled 217 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve. Thirty-seven people were booked into county jail. Deputies took reports of one aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three reports of criminal mischief, one vehicle burglary, two thefts and one burglary of a building.

* Denton Fire Department reports were not available Friday because of computer failure.

Lake Cities firefighters responded to four medical calls, one request for mutual aid and one hazardous-materials incident.

Double Oak firefighters responded to one structure fire.

Argyle firefighters responded to one medical call and one alarm.

Pilot Point firefighters responded to one medical call, one alarm and two traffic accidents.

Aubrey firefighters responded to one medical call.

Krum firefighters responded to one traffic accident.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com.

Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.