A HAPLESS burglar was caught after stepping in dog dirt left by a puppy who alerted his family to the intruder - with the footprints matched to the criminal's trainers.

The burglary happened at a house on Shetland Close, Cinnamon Brow, where the burglar entered through a rear garden at around midnight.

After rescue dog Freddie, a German Shepherd-Husky cross, disturbed the man, he padded upstairs to wake up Mark and Alison Stewart.

Dad-of-two Mark, aged 39, said: "The dog came upstairs and started to nudge my wife.

"He sometimes needs to be let out, so she went downstairs and into the kitchen, and could see the cupboard doors open.

"We phoned the police who said they had units in the area.

"The police said the burglar had trodden in dog muck and left footprints on the kitchen tiles.

"The footprints were matched exactly to his shoes, and the police said that is nearly as good as a fingerprint now, so he was banged to rights.

"And because Freddie had disturbed him, the only thing he had taken was an empty iPhone box."

The burglary happened on Tuesday, October 14.

Mark and Alison's two sons, Callum, aged 16, and Harvey, aged five, were also in bed at the time.

Despite the ordeal, Mark, who runs a plumbing and heating business, said the family has recovered.

"It's a bit strange really," he said.

"The burglary has not really effected us.

"It's horrible somebody has been in your property, but we don't live in a bad area so I think it was an opportunist.

"We're over it now."

And Mark thanked police for their speedy response.

A man has been arrested in connection to the incident.

He added: "The police were fantastic.

"When there are cutbacks it highlights how important it is that police are out there

"Cuts should be made elsewhere not on the front line."