How did the cops find the man?

Question

On a cold, winter day, a family called the police to report a theft. The family told the cops that someone broke into their house during the night and stole many things. The cops said they would handle the case.

A few minutes later, the cops had the man who committed the crime. The mother of the family asked the cops how they found him with very little evidence. The cops laughed and explained.

How did the cops find the man?

Answer 1

The obvious answer is that they followed the footprints in the snow. That does assume that there is snow on the ground.