Cops: We got E. Side rob spree ‘tunnel rat’

Police on Thursday arrested a homeless “tunnel rat” for burglarizing nine East Side businesses, the NYPD said.

Irving Talavera, 49, was charged with nine counts of burglary, grand larceny and petty larceny for the burglary spree that began in June, cops said.

After identifying him as a potential suspect, cops spotted Talavera wandering around the Upper East Side about 3:45 a.m. Thursday morning.

Talavera allegedly began his burglary spree on June 21 when he used a hammer to bash his way into Shangri-La Nails on Lexington Ave. near E. 93rd St.

Police said that the suspect entered a neighboring business at about 11:30 p.m., then used the hammer to bust through a common wall leading to the nail salon. But, for all his effort, he only made off with $150.

The suspect resurfaced a few hours later, this time breaking into the Rocco Steakhouse on Madison Ave. near E. 28th St. at about 9 a.m. The thief broke through a maintenance door and removed $1,300 in cash and a $1,000 check, cops said.

A few days later, on July 25, he allegedly broke into Shorty’s restaurant on Pearl St. near Broad St., where he took $350 from a cash register.

Police said he hit five more locations within the next month, including the Pure Barre gym on Lexington Ave. and Celestial Cleaners on E.68th St.