Berlin  - A guilt-stricken thief who had robbed the company safe burnt her ill-gotten gains amounting to several thousand euros and then scattered the ashes, police in the southern German city of Nuremberg said Tuesday.

Police were nevertheless able to track down the 31-year-old culprit who made a clean breast of her crime.

The woman said she had initially left the money, stolen from the company she worked for, with a friend, but had later burnt it in a pot. She then scattered the ashes on a field, where police discovered traces of the banknotes.

A police spokesman said the woman was "visibly relieved" at being found out and being given the chance to make a full confession. (dpa)