Westlake Police Capture Burglary Suspect Using Footprints in The Snow

Westlake officers tracked down a suspected burglar by following footprints he left in the snow, police said.James Roth, 28, is charged with burglary and criminal trespassing.

A Westlake man called police about 4 a.m. Friday after seeing strange footprints around his home.The man told police that the footprints led to both of the cars parked in his driveway and into a garage attached to his home.

Police followed the footprints and noticed that they led to other cars parked in the neighborhood and into an unlocked garage on Meadow Lane.

Small items and cash had been stolen from the cars and the garage, police said.

Officers also found fresh strawberries stolen from one of the cars on the ground near a fence in the neighborhood and determined the burglar dropped them as he scaled the fence.

The footprints ended at Roth's Maple Ridge Road home, a police report said.

Officers found Roth inside and he eventually admitted he was prowling the streets looking for unlocked doors, court documents said.

His first court appearance hasn't been scheduled yet, court records said.