THE iconic theme from the TV show 'Law & Order' led police to an armed robber in New Jersey.

Police in Paterson, about 104km north-east of Trenton, said two armed and masked men forced their way into a home on Wednesday night and stole a mobile phone with the instantly recognisable song set as the ring tone, myFOXny.com reported.

One suspect was accused of holding a nine-year-old boy, his mother and grandmother at gunpoint while an accomplice raided the home for valuables.

As investigators approached a group of suspects on Thursday they dialed the stolen mobile phone's number and heard the phone's distinctive ring tone.

One man was arrested while police are still hunting for a second.

Michael Richardson, 23, was charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and four counts of aggravated assault, The Record reported.

Read more at myFOXny.com.

Originally published as Law and Order ringtone 'gives away thief'