Two men may have learned early this morning why it's best to get a snowmachine legitimately instead of simply taking someone else's.

Whitehorse RCMP were called to Riverdale at 3:30 a.m. after reports two men had unloaded a snowmobile from the back of a truck to steal it.

"Both men had fled prior to police attending after the owner of the snowmobile had confronted them on the street," reads a statement from the RCMP.

"One man pulled a knife, threatened the victim and then ran away. The second man fled the scene on foot and was arrested by police in the area."

Officers found him after being phoned by a concerned resident to report where the man was hiding, police said.

Police are continuing to investigate and are looking for the other man involved.

A 22-year-old Whitehorse resident is in police custody and is expected to be charged later today with theft under $5,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call the RCMP at 667-5555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.