Police in Chester made a historic arrest after using DNA to catch two suspects wanted for stealing firearms.

Using a mix of science and good police work, a 13-month investigation is now closed. According to police, two suspects broke into a house on Laroe Road in January of 2006. Police say about $27,000 worth of valuables were stolen, including four rifles and two handguns.

Police found a cigarette butt near the crime scene with enough saliva for a DNA sample. Lab workers ran that sample through a database. The DNA from the cigarette initially couldn't be matched. Then, three months ago, police busted 23-year-old Milton Carbrera, of New Windsor, and an 18-year-old from Campbell Hall in a separate incident. Police say DNA gathered as a result of those arrests could be traced back to the genetic material left on the cigarette.

A few months ago, former Governor George Pataki (R-NY) signed a law requiring all convicted felons to provide a DNA sample for the state?s databank, making the Chester arrests possible.