A US POLICE department netted one of its own in a sting operation when surveillance cameras caught an officer repeatedly stealing colleagues’ food and drink from the staff fridge.

Houston police officer Kevin Yang was charged with A misdemeanour theft and suspended for 30 days without pay.

Deer Park Police Chief Greg Griggs told KTRK-TV of Houston that a class C misdemeanor conviction would not keep Yang from returning to duty.

Griggs says he authorised the video sting because the thefts have been going on for too long much to the aggravation of those working in the police department.

Even though the items being stolen may be of trivial value, Griggs said that theft was theft.

“When you’re not putting anything in and you’re taking things out, it became clear to us he was taking things knowingly and against the law,” he told the local station.

Yang said that he was merely taking it upon himself to keep the shared refrigerator clean. He will return to work on 22 March and even if he is convicted of the misdemeanour theft charge, he will be able to return to work.

- additional reporting from AP