A man is due to appear in court today after being outsmarted by Police in Waihi on Friday night.

"Waikato Police have arrested a suspected repeat offender after he tried to sneak away from the scene of a crime in Waihi yesterday evening," says a police spokesperson.

Around 7pm on Friday, August 16, Police were notified that a known man, believed to have previously pilfered items from the Waihi Transfer Station along with the CCTV cameras, was onsite again.

"Cordons were established in the area but after a lengthy period of searching the area to locate him, units were stood down," says a police spokesperson.

"Thinking the coast was clear, the man left his hiding place and was quickly taken into custody by staff who had remained in the area."

The 28-year-old man has been charged with burglary, possession of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine utensils.

He is due to appear in Hamilton District Court today.