BRADY TWP — A husband and wife are accused of running a large marijuana grow operation out of their home on Staff Road.

But authorities only discovered the illegal operation, state police said, after a pair of suspected burglars in July broke in and stole several of the plants,

The young burglars knew that cannabis was being cultivated there and wanted some for themselves, according to court documents.

“I knew there was marijuana being grown in the garage,” one of the suspected burglars told police, “but I did not think it was that much.”

Vice officers later turned up 121 marijuana plants from the Cape Cod style home and detached barn style garage, police said.

District Judge Tim Shaffer this week arraigned William R. Guiney, 46, and Kimberly Ann Guiney, 43, on felony charges of manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana.

Additionally, the couple is charged with misdemeanor counts of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

They are free on $20,000 unsecured bail each.

The Guineys’ arrests Monday came five months after two alert troopers working patrol spotted a vehicle parked on the side of the road near Routes 528 and 8 in Brady Township shortly before 1 a.m. July

The troopers waited and confronted two men who returned to the vehicle. The men, police said, admitted they had gone to the Guiney home to take the marijuana plants, which they knew were there.

They kicked in a garage door and took several potted plants.

The suspected burglars detailed for investigators what they found, including “at least fifty plants” growing in separate rooms, a police affidavit said.

They also led troopers to where they had stashed the 15 stolen plants, police said.

Vice troopers took over the drug investigation and obtained a warrant to search the Guiney house.

Police seized the dozens of marijuana plants as well as 20 grams of processed marijuana, numerous pieces of growing equipment, drug paraphernalia, more than $3,000 in currency and two pistols.

William Guiney’s attorney, Stephen Misko of Butler, declined to comment on the case. Kimberly Guiney’s attorney, Caroline Roberto of Pittsburgh, could not be reached for comment.

Preliminary hearings for the couple were not immediately scheduled. Misko said the hearings would likely be held in February.