A man who allegedly stole a caravan in Bethlehem over the weekend was thwarted when he stopped to change a flat tyre.

Pete Leaver woke up Sunday morning to find his caravan missing.

He put a call out over Facebook for people to keep an eye out for it, which was spotted by someone with access to CCTV in the Whakamarama shopping area.

It appears the alleged thief pulled into the local garage after suffering a flat tyre. He hid the caravan behind the garage while getting food and the tyre fixed.

'So I raced around there, and it was still there!” says Pete, in a post to Facebook.

'Called the police who arrived quickly, and we were discussing what to do, and just at that time the little thief who stole it turned up with a new tyre to collect the caravan.

'So [the police have] apprehended him!”

A police spokesperson confirms they attended and learned the registration number of the vehicle seen towing the caravan.

'Police have spoken with the driver, who has been charged with theft and drug offences. He is due to appear in the Tauranga District Court this Thursday.”

An elated Pete says it's about more than just having the caravan itself back.

'It's about the work my Dad and I put into it to make the interior awesome and comfortable, and the wonderful memories the kids and I have had, and will continue to make in this awesome caravan.

'Thanks again everyone for caring, thank you for the info on the CCTV footage from the helpful individual, and thanks for sharing.”