William Kelley, 42, told police that someone stole his red 1992 Chevrolet pick-up truck after he left the keys on the seat while looking for a bathroom.

However, police in the town of Kennewick, in the US state of Washington, said “a new fact was discovered” after they obtained CCTV footage.

Mr Kelley had parked his vehicle “because he was stealing items from a business across the street”, the police department said on Facebook.

He has since been arrested on suspicion of burglary – but his vehicle has still not been located.