The birds from Hansel and Gretel were nowhere to be found to save these macaroni eating burglars.

Police in Livingston County N.Y. report they were able to find three men who allegedly robbed a restaurant in Mt. Morris Sunday morning because they left a trail of macaroni salad they were apparently eating during their escape into the woods.

But unlike the children’s fairy tale the pasta, mayonnaise and vegetable combo remianed on the ground and led to their quick arrest.

These three stooges were very sloppy as they left a trail of the salad along with pieces of other stolen items including a cash register, loose change, surveillance equipment and a glove, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office reports.

Officers who arrived at Build A Burger & Ice Cream at 6:30 a.m. quickly spotted the debris at the Greenway Trail, a nature walk that leads to a wooded area behind the eatery. The officers followed the path of evidence which eventually led to the arrest of the three suspects by Sunday afternoon, police said.

"It's hard, you can't trust anyone anymore."

Matthew P. Sapetko, 34, of Mt. Morris, James P. Marullo, 35, of Mt. Morris, and Timothy S. Walker Jr., 23, of Idaho, were charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and grand larceny. Walker is also charged with possession of a controlled substance and a hypodermic instrument, police said.

Jayme Young, who works at the restaurant owned by her parents, told the Daily News they had to close on Mother's Day due to the damage. The thieves threw a rock through the glass door and ripped out their home surveillance system.

"We were taken by surprise by it," she said, adding the seasonal restaurant has not had any problems before in the three years.

The eatery, which allows customers to specialize their own burgers, said the register only had about $29 in change but the security system and register were found smashed.

But many friends and family stopped by the location on Mother's Day and offered to help. The business did reopen Monday.

Young said the family was relieved the suspects' sloppiness led to their arrest.

"We don't know these people, we didn't know who would do this," she said. "It's hard, you can't trust anyone anymore."

[NY DailyNews]