Dog Walker Interrupts Loose Change Thief

A local dog walker arrived at her client's Main Street home Monday and was surprised to find a strange older model pickup truck in the driveway.

According to police, the dog walker headed inside where she talked with an unfamiliar man. Though she didn't know him, police said she told them she assumed he was supposed to be there.

"She said he was trying to get her out of the house quickly," Det. Sgt. Jamie Berger said.

The dogwalker did leave, unaware that she had interrupted a burglary in progress.

Later that afternoon, the homeowner returned and discovered that a water jug full of loose change totaling in excess of $500 was missing. He also found two broken basement windows.

Wayland Police were able to track down a suspect, 49-year-old Joseph Sweeney of 7 Pryor Road, Natick, based on the pickup truck the dog walker saw in the driveway. The dog walker subsequently identified both the truck and the suspect as those she saw the day of the break-in.

Sweeney has been charged with one count of larceny over $250, one count of malicious destruction of property over $250 and one count of breaking and entering in the daytime for a felony.

He is currently being held on a probation violation warrant as well as the warrant obtained by Wayland Police.