Cops: Building cleaner stole cash

A building cleaner faces burglary and grand larceny charges after he left DNA evidence at the scene of a crime in Lake Success, police said.

Peter Rodriguez, 42, of Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglar's tools and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Rodriguez, while employed by Ashland Maintenance, an outside contractor, as a cleaner at an office building on Marcus Avenue in Lake Success, entered the building at about 12:30 p.m. on April 9 without authorization -- and then forced open a lock box, stealing cash, Nassau County police said.

Police said they caught Rodriguez after he left DNA evidence at the scene.

When Rodriguez was arrested Friday he was allegedly in possession of a pill police said they believe was oxycodone.

He was being held on $15,000 bail and was scheduled to appear Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.