Three men were arrested after Ottawa bus passes and lottery tickets worth more than $32,000 were stolen since January.

The men were arrested Friday while under police surveillance, police said Wednesday.

Police said they began investigating after receiving reports of the thefts from stores across the city.

Jean Paul Hawkins, 26, was charged with one count of theft over $5,000 and four counts of theft under $5,000; Robert Borrens, 29, was charged with one count of theft over $5,000 and three counts of theft under $5,000; and Olivier Fortin, 24, was charged with failing to comply with conditions imposed by a court.