CAMBRIDGE — It started out as a routine traffic stop.

An officer patrolling Elgin Street in Cambridge spotted a pickup truck loaded with 80 sheets of stainless steel and two large drums of aluminum shavings. The officer wanted to ensure the load was properly secured and pulled the vehicle over.

After talking to the two men inside, the officer became suspicious. He soon realized the items in the back of the pickup truck had been stolen.

But from where?

Since that 3:30 a.m. traffic stop on Jan. 19, Waterloo Regional Police have been looking for the rightful owner of the goods but have been unsuccessful.

On Friday, photos of the stolen goods were released in the hopes of identifying their owner.

“We’re trying to figure out if anyone knows who the owner is,” said Waterloo Regional Police spokesperson Olaf Heinzel.

“We would like to return the property to the owners.”

While it’s unusual for police to have such a quantity of stolen goods without any victim, Heinzel said it’s possible the items were taken from different businesses without the owners noticing.

The sheets of stainless steel measure six feet by three feet and the drums are teal blue and about 45 gallons. One three-foot rectangular piece of stainless steel was also found on the back of the truck.

Heinzel said there have been spikes in theft of metals in the region in the past few years. Thieves typically steal the items and sell them to scrap metal dealers. When the price of metal goes up, so do the thefts.

Heinzel said businesses should do regular inventory of their stock so they know when something is missing. If that happens, Heinzel said police should be contacted immediately.

Two Cambridge men, aged 21 and 25, have been arrested in connection with the incident. They have been charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen property.

Anyone with information is asked to call 519-653-7700 ext. 2232.