Barking dog helps police nab theft suspect

A barking dog alerted a homeowner to suspicious activity on a North Woodmere street early Tuesday, leading police to arrest a Queens man they said stole two tires and rims from an Infinity G37.

Nassau County police said Angel Cruz, 23, of 96th Street, East Elmhurst, was arrested after the 911 call as he sat in his own car in a parking lot in Woodmere. Police said the tires and rims - valued at $2,400 - lug nuts, gloves and a lug wrench were recovered from the Nissan Maxima he was sitting in.

Cruz was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and possession of burglar tools, according to police.

Police said Cruz had stopped his white Maxima in the middle of Oliver Avenue with its lights off and was removing or had removed the tires and rims from the Infiniti when a barking dog woke the car owner about 1:10 a.m.

Police said the car owner called 911, then turned on his home's outside lights. Cruz fled in the Maxima, and the car owner saw that the two tires and rims on the driver's side had been stolen, police said.

Police spotted the Maxima in a parking lot on Branch Boulevard and arrested Cruz. He was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.