The alleged break-in involved a black Chrysler, which was temporarily abandoned on the side of the road after it lost control in wet weather and hit a sign on the side of the New England Highway at Tarro.

Thankfully no one was seriously injured in the crash, which happened about midnight Sunday, but the person involved contacted police for assistance.

Police said a tow truck wasn't available to move the car at the time, so the driver locked it before officers wrapped it in police tape and left.

But about an hour later, police said a live Transport Management Centre camera recorded a man pulling up beside the Chrysler in a Dodge four-wheel-drive.

Police claim the man got our of his car, smashed the passenger side window with a spanner and stole LED flood lights, a welder, electrical cable and an angle grinder from the car before driving off.

Transport Management Centre staff contacted authorities after the Dodge was seen to pull up next to another car that was broken down about a kilometre up the highway.

Police made their way to the scene and arrested a 30-year-old Thornton man. They also retrieved the items missing from the broken down Chrysler.

The 30-year-old man was charged with stealing, possessing a knife in a public place, goods in custody and possessing house breaking tools.

He received conditional bail to appear in Maitland Local Court on Wednesday, April 3.