Cops: Burglar nabbed in North Lawrence

A burglar was caught in the act early Saturday, carrying a laptop in the victim's North Lawrence home, and was arrested a short time later in a nearby yard, police said.

A woman, 44, and her son, 13, arrived at their Pearl Street residence to find Ervin Rodriguez, 28, with the victim's laptop, Nassau County police said in a news release.

Rodriguez, of 3 Burnside Ave., Lawrence, struck the woman in the face with the laptop, dropped it and ran off, heading north on Lawrence Avenue, police said.

Fourth Precinct officers who responded to the burglary call found Rodriguez in a yard not far from the home and arrested him on a charge of first-degree burglary. He was to arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead.

The victim declined medical attention for her minor facial injury, police said.