A “possible burglar” has been rescued after spending two days trapped in a grease-filled vent of a closed restaurant.

Police officers in San Lorenzo, a town in the San Francisco Bay Area, received a report on Tuesday morning of a person needing assistance.

“The reporting citizen, heard a faint voice calling for help at a neighbouring vacant Chinese food restaurant,” Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Police officers arrived at Chef Kwong’s Chinese Restaurant, a business that had closed down, and realised the voice was coming from a roof vent on top of the building.

They found a 29-year-old man trapped in the sheet metal duct which ran from the roof of the building to its kitchen.

The man was found in a roof vent (Alameda County Sheriff)

“The man was covered in grease and oil and was trapped in such a condition that he could not move,” said Sergeant Ray Kelly.

Firefighters responded at around 9.30am and freed the man by cutting away the sheet metal around the vents.

“He was very dirty, very cold,” said Mr Kelly. “He was very thankful to see us.”

The man told the emergency services that he had been trapped in the vent for two days.

Mr Kelly added that though the vent had wide holes, it was smooth inside

“You combine that with grease and you can’t gain traction,” he said.

The man had spent two days in the vent (Alameda County Fire Department)

An ambulance took the man to hospital for treatment for exposure and he is now in police custody.

Officers are to charge him for trespassing and are investigating whether he was trying to burgle the closed restaurant.

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The sheriff’s office described the man on Twitter as a “possible burglar” and are investigating why he climbed into the vent.