Police: Burglar Leaves Boots in Home, Arrested Barefoot

YONKERS, N.Y. – He's a shoo-in for Burglar of the Year.

A man who broke into a home but was chased away by a barking dog left his boots behind, police said, and he was arrested when an officer saw him walking shoeless.

John Lyles climbed through the home's window around 4 a.m. Friday and took off his boots, probably so he wouldn't make any noise while sneaking around, police said. But the homeowner's dog started growling and barking at him, they said, and he ran away empty-handed — and barefoot.

Later that morning, an officer spotted Lyles walking without shoes in a nearby apartment building hallway, questioned him and arrested him, police said.

Lyles, 36, was charged with second-degree burglary, a felony.

There was no telephone listing for Lyles at the Mount Vernon home address provided by police. A telephone message left for a John Lyles at a different address in the city was not immediately returned Monday night, and another number was no longer in service.