A trail of Gummy Bears led Auckland police to a thief.

A woman called police at about 9.40am after her car was broken into in the central city.

Inspector Vaughn Graham said the car was damaged but all that was taken was a packet of Gummy Bears.

"Officers followed a trail of Gummy Bears to a nearby bus shelter where a man who appeared to be intoxicated was asleep and surrounded by discarded gummies," he said.

The man was charged with theft and wilful damage and was due to appear in the Auckland District Court.