Timing is everything -- just ask Herbert Perkins and Melvin Williams.

Perkins, 28, and Williams, 26, were arrested today by an alert city detective who was on his way to work and discovered two men allegedly attempting to kidnap a woman while they were armed with a sawed-off shotgun.

Sgt. Daniel Gunther, a plainclothesman assigned to headquarters, was pulling his private car into the 1100 block of E. Fairmount Ave. in East Baltimore when he saw two men forcing Gloria Friend, a 33-year-old teacher at the Philadelphia Training Center, back into her car with a sawed-off shotgun.

Gunther said he jumped from his car, identified himself as a police officer and pointed his .38-caliber service revolver at the men. One of them dropped the loaded shotgun and the other dropped a trash bag containing electrical tape, gloves and a screwdriver.

Other officers arrived and Perkins and Williams were taken to the Southeastern District, where they were charged with attempted robbery, attempted kidnapping, assault and a felony handgun violation.

The victim was taken to Mercy Hospital, were she was treated for a face cut and released.

Friend said she parks her car along Fairmount Avenue daily and either walks or rides to the school, where she teaches computer skills.

"I had just parked my car and was getting out when they came up and told me to get back into the car," she said. Friend started screaming and attracted the attention of Gunther, who works in the Escape and Apprehension Unit.

Gunther said he also parks his own car along Fairmount Avenue.