SAN DIEGO -- Three Russian men were formally charged Tuesday with grand theft after they allegedly entered a local electronics store and stole electronics, 10News reported.

The men, identified as Timur Batyrshin, Igor Muratov and Demitry Goryunov, are accused of stealing electronics from a Fry's Electronics store in Serra Mesa last Friday. Prosecutor Sharla Ebert said the men used Swiss Army knives to commit the crime.

"They were opening packages with knives and concealing the items in their bags," said Ebert.

The men were supposed to return to their home country in a month but are now facing jail time.

"They had Swiss Army knives with them and tin foil. They indicated that they were using the tin foil to try to defeat the security devices on the product," said Ebert.

Ebert said the trio tried to take the electronics valued at more than $700, but were arrested as they tried to leave the store.

Sources told 10News that the three men are pedicab drivers in the U.S. on J-1 visas, which allow them to live and work in the U.S.

"They are here on six-month visas," said Ebert.

Pedicab drivers have had trouble with the law in recent months, according to 10News.

Last week, three pedicab drivers were charged in a fraud and forgery case.

In June, a pedicab driver was accused in the death of a tourist who fell while riding in his pedicab. Charges were never filed in the case.

The three men in the electronics theft case face up to three years in prison.