A burglar who broke into a building in Alkmaar in the early hours of Friday morning ended up calling the police because he could not work out how to leave, local broadcaster RTV NH said on Friday.

The 60-year-old man had broken a window to get into the building but could not find his way out, RTV NH said. He then rang the police in ‘floods of tears’. 

‘The burglar was under the influence of drink or drugs and was very emotional,’ a police spokesman said. ‘This meant he could not get out of the building.’ 

Police turned up to rescue the man and took him to hospital where he was treated for minor cuts. He was then arrested, RTV NH said.