By Sarah Light, staff writer

BRICELYN &8212; Faribault County Sheriff&8217;s Office deputies are continuing their search today for two individuals involved with a theft outside of the old canning factory in Bricelyn early this morning.

According to Faribault County Sheriff Mike Gormley, the Sheriff&8217;s Office received a call at about 4 this morning that there were two people with flashlights and a pickup seen outside of the old canning factory in Bricelyn.

Some stainless-steel equipment had been stolen from outside of the factory, he said.

Gormley said the two people were chased out of town about two miles west of Bricelyn to a cornfield, where they fled on foot.

Bricelyn is about 23 miles southwest of Albert Lea. Anyone believed to encounter the thieves should contact authorities right away.

A Fairmont canine officer came out to assist in the search along with a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter, but the two people were not found.

Officials will continue to search nearby farmsites today to see if the people or any other clues can be found there, the sheriff said.

No other specific information about the people &8212; such as gender &8212; is available at this time, Gormley said. However, the individuals are also believed to be associated with a car trailer stolen out of North Mankato.

The Wells and Blue Earth police departments are also assisting in the search.