A burglar in Chengdu broke into a restaurant early on Thursday morning, carrying off more than 15 kilograms of food and 40 kilograms of oil, but leaving behind valuable electronic devices, news.huaxi100.com has reported.

The restaurant's cook, surnamed Zheng, said that the thief took more than 15 kilograms of pig ears, pigtails and other food; he also took 15 kilograms of oil, 25 kilograms of hot chili oil and some seasonings.

The restaurant's surveillance video shows the thief breaking a window and entering the restaurant at 4:23 am. He left at 5:20 am with three large bags of food, fleeing the scene in a car.

The thief also stole a cell phone and 120 yuan ($19) from the checkout counter but left behind a television and computer,.

"We have never encountered a thief so savage and ridiculous, " said Ms Li, a waitress. "If he wants money, why leave the television and computer? If he wants the recipes, why take the pre-cooked food?"

The case remains under investigation.

news.huaxi100.com