A New Zealand man emerged greasy and hypothermic after his plan to burgle a Christchurch fish and chip shop became embarrassingly unstuck.
The 18-year-old decided the best way to break into Mr Fish & Chip Shop in suburban Papanui, north of the city centre, was through an extractor fan vent above the shop's cooking vats.
But he was left red-faced when he become wedged in the vent in the early hours of Tuesday morning and was forced to shout out to neighbouring properties for help.
Inspector Derek Erasmus said the man had been trapped for a couple of hours in 6C temperatures by the time police arrived.
"We had to call the fire service because he was well stuck. They had to cut him out."
The man, who was covered in oil from the vent, was suffering from hypothermia when he was arrested.
A Mr Fish & Chip Shop staff member confirmed the shop had been targeted before hurriedly ending the call to return to work.
The man is to appear in court on Monday charged with burglary.
