Man caught on camera - stealing it

A man has been caught on a security camera - stealing it.

The man found his car had been locked in the New Plymouth Centre City shopping complex carpark when he went to retrieve it at 11.30pm last Thursday, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Police said he broke into the parking booth, probably intent on finding the key to release the carpark chain and spotting the security camera recording his every move, he ripped it out.

But the man must not have realised that the camera's computer hard drive had retained the footage of the theft, Detective Pat Yates said.

He could avoid further embarrassment by handing himself in, along with the security camera, Mr Yates said.

- NZPA